Find out what really happened during Paul Revere’s midnight ride. Separate the facts from the myths surrounding the ride, then retrace Revere’s route from his home in North Square towards the Charles River. Children don hats and carry props as they go, taking on the roles of Paul and Rachel Revere, their children, British soldiers, rowers, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and others. Pre-visit materials provided.

Introduce young children to life in colonial Boston through games popular in the Reveres’ era. Inside the Revere House, students search for beans, thimbles, a bed wrench and other household items colonial families incorporated into pastimes. Students then try their hands at games such as Snail, Button-Button, Jackstraws, Beast-Fish-Fowl, and Ninepins. Fascinating details emerge about many aspects of daily life. Pre-visit materials provided.

Paul Revere’s North End changed dramatically in the 1800s as Irish, Eastern European and Italian immigrants settled in the colonial dwellings in large numbers. During this program students will discover why as well as what it was like to live in one of the most densely populated communities on earth. Students tour the Paul Revere House discussing immigrants in each room – from the Puritans and enslaved Africans through to the last Italians to roll cigars upstairs. The program continues with a walking tour through the North End’s twisting streets and alleyways. Students hear accounts of children who grew up in the nearby tenements, discovering how they helped support their families by working as “newsies,” trooped to the local bath house with little brothers or sisters in tow, played stickball, and helped tend rooftop gardens. Pre-visit materials provided.

After his midnight ride, Paul Revere couldn’t return to Boston. What became of his family as patriot forces besieged the city, trying to expel the British troops? Children find out as they take on the roles of Sarah, helping her mother pack to flee the city, and Paul Jr., left behind to guard the house against marauding soldiers. Pre-visit materials provided.

Explore Paul Revere’s home and neighborhood. This tour includes stops at the locations of Revere’s silversmith shop and foundry, Boston’s waterfront, Copp’s Hill Cemetery and outside the Old North Church. As they explore the North End, students gather details about Revere’s life by inspecting prints and reproduction artifacts, and discover how Revere used Boston’s geography to his advantage. Pre-visit materials provided.

During a short slide presentation, children find out what really happened on Revere’s midnight ride. In small groups, students examine letters, advertisements and reproduction artifacts, looking for clues about the man behind the myth. Intriguing details emerge about Revere’s personality, contributions to the Revolution, large family, and many business ventures. An interactive tour of Revere’s house completes the program. Pre-visit materials provided.

For groups walking the Freedom Trail or on a whirlwind tour of Boston, this is the perfect option. Outside the Revere House, museum staff tell the story of Revere’s ride and present a brief history of his home. Inside the building, staff provide a fascinating glimpse into everyday life for the Revere family, describing the intriguing furnishings and personal artifacts on display. Plenty of time is available for questions.

We know our virtual program offerings are limited at this time and we want to be as flexible as possible in creating experiences that tie into your curriculum and fit into the circumstances of your students’ learning this year. Please reach out to us to develop a plan for a program that you would like to co-create with our Education Department. Topics we might cover include, Immigration to the North End, the Revere family’s experiences during the Siege of Boston, and the evolving history of architecture on our site.

Led by an experienced museum educator, students will explore the facts and fiction surrounding the story of Paul Revere’s midnight ride before analyzing primary source documents relating to other aspects of Revere’s long and interesting life. Each original document will be shown with its transcription and discussed as a group. Reproduction objects connected to each primary source will be analyzed to determine their material and function. This program can be presented remotely to a group of students who are on individual devices or in a classroom together.

Discover the real story of Paul Revere’s midnight ride and experience a virtual guided tour of the Paul Revere House with an experienced museum educator. This program features a screen share of images and short video clips along with plenty of time for questions and answers. Eminently adaptable, this remote presentation can be made via Zoom (or other platforms) for a class who are on individual devices or in a classroom together.