Paul Revere House in Boston’s North End

The Paul Revere House is one of the stops on the PhotoWalks North End Tour. Located on the Freedom Trail at 19 North Square, the house was built in 1680 and is the oldest wooden building in Boston. It’s also a national historic landmark.

Paul Revere purchased the 90-year old house in 1770.  Back then, it had three stories— complete with high ceilings, spacious rooms, and huge fireplaces. Paul Revere moved in with his large family and owned the house for 30 years.  He sold it in 1800 and moved around the corner to Charter Street. 

Over the years, the ground floor transformed from a candy store to a cigar factory to a Jewish market to an Italian bank. The upper floors were apartments, where many immigrant families lived throughout the 19^th century.

Paul Revere’s great-grandson, John P. Reynolds Jr. purchased the building in 1902 to save it from demolition and restored it to its 17th-century appearance. It was converted into a museum in April 1908.

Colonial furnishings, china, antique silver, and an assortment of Revere’s etchings and manuscript letters are preserved inside.  The Paul Revere House is the only home located on the Freedom Trail.