Officially called Christ Church, the Old North Church is the oldest church building in Boston, a National Historic Landmark, and a stop on the Freedom Trail. Built in 1723, the Old North Church was inspired by the works of Christopher Wren, a British architect. It is most commonly known as the first stop on Paul Revere’s “Midnight Ride,” where he instructed three Boston Patriots to hang two lanterns in the church’s steeple. The lanterns were used to inform Charlestown Patriots that the British were approaching by sea and not by land.

“One if by land, two if by sea” was the phrase that made the Old North Church famous on the night of April 18, 1775, the eve of the American Revolution. Paul Revere rode from his home to the Old North Church, where he told the church sexton, Robert Newman, Captain John Pulling, and Thomas Bernard to hang two lanterns in the steeple. Newman and Pulling made the climb, each with a lantern, while Bernard stood watch. Both the Patriots in Charlestown and the British in Boston saw the lantern signal, though it only lasted a few moments. With the British soldiers at the front doors, Newman escaped out a back window of the church in order to avoid arrest.

Interestingly, the majority of the church’s congregation was loyal to the British King and some actually held government positions. The Old North Church was the King’s own church in Boston and his box pew at the front of the church can still be seen today.