Made of wood and painted a deep gray, The Paul Revere House stands out against the typical cobblestone and brick structures of Boston. It was built around two decades before the turn of the 18th century and owned by a merchant prior to the Revere's, who dwelled there from 1770-1800. It was from this home that Revere ducked into the chilly night in April of 1775 to begin his famous journey to give heed to colonists of the incoming British invasion. He lived here originally with his wife Sarah and their children until her untimely death during the birth of their 8th child. He then lived here until 1800 with his new wife Rachel and eventually their brood of 8, though sadly many of his children did not survive past their youth.
After selling the property, the building became a boarding house for sailors, then for immigrants, and the first floor became a series of shops coming in and out. Around the beginning of the 1900s, like many historical buildings, was at risk of destruction. A descendant of Paul Revere purchased it to avoid its demise, and by 1908 it was open as a historical building. At this time, the building was restored, but most of the original structure is what you will see today.