The Church
The white interior with high box pews (families rented their own), and the window from which the lanterns are thought to have been hung.
Old North Church
Boston's oldest standing church, where two lanterns hung in the steeple warned of the British march on the night of Paul Revere's ride in 1775.
Built in 1723, Old North Church in Boston's North End is the city's oldest standing church, and its tall white steeple played its part in American history. On the night of April 18, 1775, two lanterns hung there signaled that British troops were crossing the Charles River by boat, sending Paul Revere and others riding to warn the countryside.
It's still an active Episcopal church, with its original box pews, brass chandeliers and the oldest church bells in North America. It's a stop on the Freedom Trail.
- Best Time
- April–October
- Time Needed
- 1 hour
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Most days; check oldnorth.com for hours
- Getting There
- In the North End, a 10-minute walk from Haymarket station (Orange and Green lines).
What to See
1 of 3 are freeBehind the Scenes Tour
A guided tour to the bell-ringing chamber and down into the crypt, where more than 1,000 people are buried.
Paul Revere Mall
The brick plaza below the church, with the famous statue of Revere on horseback.
Know Before You Go
- The church is free for Sunday worship; sightseeing and tours have a fee.
- The North End's Italian bakeries and restaurants are steps away.
Where to Stay
Stay in Boston.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Something wrong or out of date?
Traveler Reviews
Sign in and mark Old North Church as visited to write a review.
Go Next
Must-SeeBoston
Massachusetts
Walkable, historic and full of firsts, from the Freedom Trail to Harvard.
Full Guide
Worth a DetourCape Cod
Massachusetts
Dune-backed Atlantic beaches, lighthouses and lobster rolls, the classic New England summer.
Full Guide
If You're NearbyTouro Synagogue
Rhode Island
The oldest synagogue building in the United States, dedicated in 1763 in Newport, and the congregation to which George Washington wrote his famous letter on religious freedom.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-10-31. Part of the Northeast list.