HBGT9: Paul Revere House Virtual Cache
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Welcome to Boston's historic North End and the oldest building in downtown Boston! This is a virtual cache that is accessible with or without touring the actual historic home. Please note the logging requirements below, you must physically visit the location in order to log it, even though there is no physical container.
This cache is part of the Historic Boston GeoTour, a series of twelve caches that will take you through the city’s 400 years of history. One of the twelve is a bonus cache which will require you to also complete the Freedom Trail Adventure Labs. Completing the GeoTour will earn you 57 smileys, a Historic Boston GeoTour geocoin, and a Historic Boston digital souvenir.
Historic Boston Geotour Stop 9: Paul Revere House
Paul Revere
Paul Revere was an American silversmith, engraver, dentist, and Patriot in the American Revolution. He is best known for his midnight ride to alert the colonial militia in April 1775 to the approach of British forces. After the war Revere continued to expand his metal work operations and contributed to many technological and industrial advances.
History of Paul Revere's House
The original house was built around 1680, making it the oldest surviving building in Boston .The first owner was Robert Howard, a wealthy merchant. The house was built in typical colonial-style architecture featuring large open rooms and no interior hallways. By the mid-18th century, the front roof line of the building had been raised, which enlarged the garret and replaced the gable or gables with a row of windows.
Paul Revere purchased the home in 1770, moving with his growing family from their former house in Clark's Wharf. Paul Revere owned the home until 1800 when he sold it and it was turned into a sailor's boarding house. The house later become an immigrant tenement and the ground floor was remodeled for use as shops.
Paul Revere House circa 1898
To save the house from being demolished, Revere’s great-grandson bought it and helped found the Paul Revere Memorial Association. The house was opened to the public in 1908 making it one of the earliest historic house museums in the United States. Significant renovations were completed to return the house to a close approximation of what it would have looked like when it was first constructed. In spite of the renovations, 90% of the original structure from 1680 remains, including doors, window frames, flooring, foundation, wall materials and rafters. The upstairs rooms contain many pieces of furniture believed to be property of the Revere's.
Visiting the House
The Paul Revere House and Museum is open daily from 10:00-5:15. Admission is $6.00 for adults and $1.00 for children. Admission is not required to complete this virtual cache, but encouraged to learn even more about life in colonial America and the life of Paul Revere.
The Paul Revere House is a stop along Boston's historic Freedom Trail, a 2.5 mile red brick path that leads to numerous historic sites and buildings. I encourage you to walk the entire trail if you are planning to visit this cache and have the time.
Logging Requirements
In order to log this cache you must actually visit the cache coordinates and complete the following:
1. Answer the following question via email or Geocaching messenger: In what year did the Daughters of the American Revolution place the plaque above the front door of the house?
2. When logging your find, post a picture with your found log of you/your group/your GPS in front of Paul Revere's house. You don't need to send the photo via email, just post it with your log.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.
Sources and Further Research:
Paul Revere House
Wikipedia - Paul Revere
Atlas Obscura
Wikipedia - oldest buildings in MA
The Historic Boston GeoTour
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)