Old North Church & Historic Site

Old North Church & Historic Site Old North Church is an icon of the American Revolution and the oldest church building in Boston. John Pulling, Jr.
(1933)

The enduring fame of Old North Church began on the evening of April 18, 1775, when the church sexton, Robert Newman, and vestryman Capt. climbed the steeple and held high two lanterns as a signal from Paul Revere that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord by sea across the Charles River and not by land. This fateful event ignited the American Revolution.

On this day in 1630, the city of Boston received its name!Previously, the Puritans had called the settlement “Trimountai...
09/07/2026

On this day in 1630, the city of Boston received its name!

Previously, the Puritans had called the settlement “Trimountain” after a large hill with three summits. On September 7, the settlement was renamed “Boston” after the port town in Lincolnshire, where several prominent colonists were from.

Whenever we go through our photo archive, we always end up finding something unusual! Apparently, in 1987, the church hi...
09/04/2026

Whenever we go through our photo archive, we always end up finding something unusual!

Apparently, in 1987, the church hired a pest-sniffing beagle from Terminex Pest Control. The beagle must have done good work, because the sanctuary remains pest-free!

How much did it cost to be buried in Old North’s crypt? In the early 1800s, adults could be interred in the crypt for $1...
09/03/2026

How much did it cost to be buried in Old North’s crypt? In the early 1800s, adults could be interred in the crypt for $10.

In today’s money, that would be roughly $240. Burials and funeral services were an important source of revenue for the church.

09/02/2026

On September 16, authors Julia Angwin and Ami Fields-Meyer will join us on Zoom for a fascinating conversation about their new book "On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear."

Julia and Ami conducted over 100 original interviews with dissidents and activists from around the world. Their book offers 16 essential lessons for taking personal risks and defying authoritarianism in our daily lives. RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/on-courage-how-to-be-a-dissident-in-an-age-of-fear-tickets-1993167418403

Today is Moving Day in the North End! 70% of leases begin on September 1 in Boston, which creates a massively chaotic da...
09/01/2026

Today is Moving Day in the North End! 70% of leases begin on September 1 in Boston, which creates a massively chaotic day where thousands of young people move at the same time.

To celebrate this insane day, our team played Moving Day Bingo. Congratulations to Rada for winning!

On this day in 1954, Hurricane Carol ripped off the steeple of the Old North Church! Believe it or not, this was the sec...
08/31/2026

On this day in 1954, Hurricane Carol ripped off the steeple of the Old North Church!

Believe it or not, this was the second time our steeple had been toppled. The original was lost during “The Great Gale of Boston” in 1804. Miraculously, our original weathervane survived both storms.

Rada, one of our wonderful Educators, captured this beautiful photo in our sanctuary!
08/27/2026

Rada, one of our wonderful Educators, captured this beautiful photo in our sanctuary!

John and Elizabeth Humphries were a free Black couple who worshiped at Old North Church. They first appeared in the chur...
08/26/2026

John and Elizabeth Humphries were a free Black couple who worshiped at Old North Church. They first appeared in the church records in the 1740s.

The Humphries seem to have been kind and charitable people. We know that they took in Jerusha Will, a terminally ill Indigenous woman who was also a member of this church. Jerusha died in their home. Was she their friend? Was this Christian charity? Were they compensated for caring for her? We don’t know. But we must wonder if this relationship was forged in Old North’s gallery.

Happy 110th Birthday to the National Park Service! 🎂Old North Church & Historic Site is a proud partner of the National ...
08/25/2026

Happy 110th Birthday to the National Park Service! 🎂

Old North Church & Historic Site is a proud partner of the National Park Service and Boston National Historical Park. Here is a photo of our favorite Park Ranger, NPS K9 Jersey!

Why is there a statue of St. Francis behind Old North's gift shop?Built in 1918, our gift shop was once the St. Francis ...
08/25/2026

Why is there a statue of St. Francis behind Old North's gift shop?

Built in 1918, our gift shop was once the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, which served Italian Protestants living in the North End. Today, the St. Francis Garden behind the shop reminds us of this unique history.

Address

193 Salem Street
Boston, MA
02113

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12:30pm - 5pm

Telephone

+16175236676

Website

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