Revere House Radio

Genna Kane, a former Paul Revere House interpreter, shares stories and analysis from her dissertation research on the history of Boston’s waterfront. We are only a few blocks from the harbor at the Paul Revere House, and many people describe the North End and Waterfront neighborhoods as one. In the interview, we get into changing commercial and industrial functions, sea level rise, the creation of waterfront parks, and more. At the close of the show, high school interns Keyana and Maddie share a bit about their internship project and what they learned about museums. Map of Boston in 1722 by John Bonner in the Massachusetts Historical SocietyBoston Green Ribbon Commission North End / Waterfront Climate Alliance1876 lithograph of a ship leaving Cunard Wharf in 1844 using the canal cut in the ice. India Wharf Bulfinch warehouse as photographed in 1903c. 1927 photo of bathers at North End Beach Virtual exhibit created by our 2025 high school interns https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

Happy 251st anniversary of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride! Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson is the guest in this episode, and we talk about the role of poetry in society and about Paul Revere's life. He shares his poem “Dear Paul Revere, or Forge, Shape, Shine” and we discuss his process for creating this piece that explores what Revere’s legacy means today. To round out the show, high school interns Arabella and Veronica share a bit about what they learned about history. Regie's websitePhillis Wheatley postage stamp Just the recording and text of "Dear Paul Revere" by Regie Gibson Text of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride” A digitized recording of “Paul Revere (Won’t You Ride for Us Again)” Regie’s recommendations: Walt Whitman – Link to online edition of Leaves of Grass Doris Kearns Goodwin David McCulloughWhat Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism by Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschnerhttps://www.paulreverehouse.org/

We're starting season five with an interview with R.P. Hale, an educator, craftsman and musician who has worked with the Revere House on special events for several decades. We'll talk instrument making, paper marbling, and printing, and how these and other crafts were interwoven with daily life in the 18th century. In our interpreter segment, Derek and Natalie talk about international trade and religious perspectives in Boston. Paul Revere’s engraving showing the obelisk for the Stamp Act repeal celebration Internet Archive copy of Paul Revere’s Engravings by Clarence BrighamVideo presentation commemorating Paul Revere’s Massacre memorial illuminations https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

We're releasing a new season of Revere House Radio starting in mid-April. Season Five will include six interviews with historians, colleagues from related museums, and more, with discussions ranging from Masonry to Boston's waterfront, textile repair, to harpsichords. https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

For the last episode of Season Four, recent Paul Revere House Research Fellow Ryan Bachman discusses his research into Black residents in the North End, in the decade that legal slavery ended in Massachusetts and the decades that followed. He highlights some of his favorite stories and discusses the challenges and opportunities of tracing people’s lives through government documents such as census data and tax records. In Our Favorite Questions, interpreters Derek and Colton talk about the power of physical places and objects in connecting with history. We’ll be back with more Revere House Radio next spring! The map, presented on our blogShort biography of Salem Poor from American Battlefield TrustBook: Black Boston: African American Life and Culture in Urban America, 1750-1860 by George LevesqueBook: Black Bostonians: Family Life and Community Struggle in the Antebellum North, by James Oliver Horton and Lois E. HortonArticle: The Forgotten Legacy of Boston’s Historic Black Graveyard by Dart AdamsBook: Disowning Slavery: Gradual Emancipation and "Race" in New England, 1780–1860 by Joanne Pope MelishBook: Memoir of Mrs. Chloe Spear, a native of Africa, who was enslaved in childhood, and died in Boston, January 3, 1815https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

In this episode we welcome Sarah McDonough of the Lexington History Museums. We discuss what happened when Paul Revere reached Lexington, some individuals’ stories from that revolutionary moment and that era, and the magic that happens in both costumed interpretation and large reenactments like the ones coming up. In the Our Favorite Questions segment, Revere House interpreter Jay shares some details of 18th-century daily life. Please note that the episode includes discussion of some of the violent realities of both war and slavery. Lexington History Museums1825 book that includes William Munroe’s accountA History of the Fight at Concord, by Ezra Ripley (Google Books link)Dolly Hancock’s account“Mark Hung in Chains:” Slavery & Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride” from our Revere Express blogLiberty and Servitude at the Hancock-Clarke HousePatriots’ Day events in LexingtonApril 18th events in Boston and Charlestownhttps://www.paulreverehouse.org/

This episode’s guest is Nikki Stewart, Executive Director of Old North Illuminated. She says that Old North Church is famous for just one minute, when Paul Revere’s signal lanterns shone, but there’s a lot more to the church’s long history. Nikki shares information that research has uncovered in the past five years and how it has reshaped their interpretation of the historic site. In the Our Favorite Things segment, interpreters Corbin and Derek talk about historical legends and how people in different eras could have markedly different ways of viewing the world. Old North IlluminatedHub history podcastPlay: Revolution’s EdgeLanterns and Luminaries event honoring Ken Burns250th events at Old North and beyondUpcoming events at the Paul Revere House, including April 18 eventsDr. Jaimie Crumley on Beulah Speen: “The Social Construction of Race in Early Massachusetts History”Dr. Jaimie Crumley’s PRMA lecture "Old England in New England: Contradictions in the History of Boston's Old North Church"https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

In the kickoff to season 4, we are re-airing excerpts from a five-part series that previous host Robert released in 2020, all about the Midnight Ride. The 250th anniversary of the Midnight Ride is this April 18, so more Ride content is coming soon! In addition, Paul Revere House interpreters Derek and Hann kick off this season’s Our Favorite Questions segment, discussing disease and death in the colonial era, Rachel Revere, and more. Revere Express blog post, “Paul Revere’s ‘Other Rides’”Midnight Ride information on our new website for students and teachers, including primary sourcesRevere’s report to Jeremy BelknapUpcoming events at the Paul Revere HouseBook: Spies, Soldiers, and Saboteurs: Women of the American Revolution, by K.M. Waldvogelhttps://www.paulreverehouse.org/

3.6: If not “The Black Paul Revere,” Who was Wentworth Cheswill?: interview with John Herman NH patriot Wentworth Cheswill is sometimes termed “The Black Paul Revere,” but he’s a fascinating historical figure in his own right. John Herman is an English teacher who got hooked on researching and sharing Cheswill’s story. To wrap up season 3, former podcast co-host Robert is the guest on the segment Our Favorite Questions. Book: Wentworth Cheswill’s Ride: Chasing a Would-Be American Folk Hero by John HermanJohn’s websiteThe Lakewood (Ohio) Historical Societyhttps://www.paulreverehouse.org/

In 1954, during a legal battle over her right to perform in Boston, actress and singer Christine Jorgensen visited the Paul Revere House. This episode’s guest, Mehitabel Glenhaber, wrote a Revere House Gazette article about these events. Interpreter Cal shares how her training as a historical archaeologist informs how she answers her favorite visitor questions. Photo: Christine Jorgenson walking into Paul Revere's homePhoto: Christine Jorgenson outside Boston Information centerPhoto: Christine Jorgenson inside Paul Revere's house, kneeling beside a rocking cradleBook: Christine Jorgensen, a Personal Autobiography by Christine JorgensenInformation on Paul Revere House membership and Gazette subscriptionInformation on archeological work done at the Paul Revere House, 1980s-2010sBook: Purchasing Identity in the Atlantic World: Massachusetts Merchants, 1670-1780 by Phyllis Whitman Hunterhttps://www.paulreverehouse.org/

On select Saturdays, visitors get to interact with Paul Revere himself, as portrayed by Mike LePage. In this episode, Mike shares his experiences in the world of historical reenacting. Interpreter Adam is the guest on Our Favorite Questions. Upcoming Paul Revere House events, including visits with Paul Revere Book: Paul Revere's Ride by David Hackett FischerBook: A True Republican: The Life of Paul Revere by Jayne E. TriberBook: Johnny Tremain: a story of Boston in Revolt by Esther ForbesWinslow House MuseumAdams National Historic ParkBook: Midnight Ride, Industrial Dawn: Paul Revere and the Growth of American Enterprise by Robert Martellohttps://www.paulreverehouse.org/

On September 16, 1774, Paul Revere delivered the Suffolk Resolves to the delegates at the First Continental Congress, held at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia. This episode’s guest is Michael Norris, Executive Director of Carpenters’ Hall, which is now a historic site. We’ll also hear a second excerpt from the Suffolk Resolves and hear from interpreter Cadee in Our Favorite Questions. Carpenters’ HallThe Suffolk Resolves full text, from the Massachusetts Historical SocietyJohn Adams’s “Sinful Feast” journal entry (about ⅓ down the page, Septr. 8.)https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

On September 11, 1774, Paul Revere set out from Milton, MA to Philadelphia with a document that left the royal government “thunderstruck,” the Suffolk Resolves. In this episode, Diann Ralph will describe the impact this now-obscure document had on the Revolution. We’ll also hear an excerpt from the opening of the document, and Tegan will introduce Derek, who will be hosting the segment Our Favorite Questions. Milton Historical Society (Suffolk Resolves House)The Suffolk Resolves full text, from the Massachusetts Historical SocietyBook: 1774: The Long Year of Revolution by Mary Beth NortonBook: ​​King and Congress: The Transfer of Political Legitimacy, 1774-1776 by Jerrilyn Greene Marston Pamphlet: The Story of the Suffolk ResolvesBook: Life and Times of Joseph Warren by Richard FrothinghamInformation on Paul Revere House membership and Gazette subscriptionhttps://www.paulreverehouse.org/

Revere House Radio is back! In this episode, podcast founder Adrienne introduces the new host, Tegan, and we talk about the podcast and Adrienne’s favorite questions from visitors. Book: A Midwife’s Tale by Laurel Thatcher UlrichOur new education website "Paul Revere's Life: Learning Resources" https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

What was the weather like in the Colonial period? This episode outlines a handful of extreme weather events Revere experienced, as well as what the weather was like on the day of recording! Read Jeremiah Newland's poem about the Cape Ann Earthquake here https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

This week, we explore what Paul Revere was doing during and just after the Siege of Boston, which took place between April 1775 and March 1776. Where was Paul Revere Jr. during the Siege of Boston? Boston1775's various blog posts about the Siege of Boston Massachusetts Historical Society online resources about the Siege of Boston https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

This week, we're talking privies, drains, and sewers! We're discussing various digs done our site in recent years, and what archeology can teach us about the past, and help us preserve it for the future. Massachusett website Interactive map to learn more about the first nations in your area Nina Rodwin's blog post about Paul Revere and the board of health Joe Bagley showcasing some finds from the dig done at the Pierce-Hichborn House Website for the Boston Archeology Department https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

This week, we're taking listener and visitor questions all about Paul Revere's Midnight Ride in 1775. We talk horse names, mystery trunks, and family drama in this episode. Did we miss something you're curious about? Shoot us an email at preverehouse@gmail.com and maybe we'll answer it on a future episode! Some links to things mentioned in the show: What was Paul Revere Jr. the oldest boy in the family, doing during the Siege of Boston? Listen to this episode from October 2020 to find out more. What did Boston look like in 1775? Check it out! https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

How do we know what Paul and Rachel looked like, and how has the Midnight Ride been depicted over the years? Tune in to find out! Copley's Paul Revere: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32401 Dunkerley's Rachel Revere: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32537 Saint-Mémin's Paul Revere: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/252379 Stuart's Paul Revere: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32402 Stuart's Rachel Revere: https://www.masshist.org/database/3448?ft=Revolutionary-Era%20Art%20and%20Artifacts&from=/features/revolutionary-era/people&noalt=1&pid=38 Wyeth's Paul Revere: http://collections.brandywine.org/objects/11327/paul-revere;jsessionid=122A13BFC2579556F33FE085400F72FA?ctx=13dd7013-5742-445b-9419-cd3300d28041&idx=7 Wood's Paul Revere: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/488577 An Example of Ripley's Set: https://www.paulreverehouse.org/reveres-own-words/ The Dallin Museum: https://dallin.org/about/ https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

In this episode we explore what pregnancy and birth may have looked like for Paul's two wives, Sarah Orne and Rachel Walker. While we don't sources directly from them describing their experiences, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's book A Midwife's Tale is an immensely helpful resource, along with other articles. For more information about the sixteen children, see our Revere Express post written by Rachel Mead https://www.paulreverehouse.org/