We are excited to share the 2025 Annual Report for Old North Illuminated. For most of the nation, the Semiquincentennial, America’s 250th anniversary, began in 2026. Here in Boston, where the American Revolution was arguably conceived and launched, our “250s” began several years ago with the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. In April 2025, Old North Illuminated collaborated with a large network of partners to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s lantern signal and midnight ride on the eve of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
On the night of April 18, 1775, Old North Church was the site of one of the most famous acts of resistance in our nation’s history. 250 years later, Old North Church has stood through every test of the American experiment. It has witnessed the promises of Reconstruction and the brutal betrayals of Jim Crow; the long fight for women’s suffrage; the exclusion of Chinese immigrants; the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II; the Civil Rights Movement; the Vietnam War; 9/11; and the wars and reckonings that followed. Each era brought fear and division. Each tested whether the nation’s stated values would be extended to all or hoarded by some.
As we commemorate this series of 250th anniversaries, it’s tempting to treat history as something settled — to celebrate triumphs without reckoning with costs. But Old North’s story resists that comfort. The lanterns did not light the path toward swift victory and a unified nation. They symbolize courage, community, and hope during a time of painful division. Democracy still demands those things of us. It requires passionate debate and strategic compromise. It requires vigilance, civic participation, and a willingness to stand beside neighbors with whom we may disagree. Above all, it requires the stubborn belief that liberty and justice for all are not relics of the past, but obligations of the present.
Here at Old North Illuminated, we are proud that Old North Church continues to spark dialogue about the founding values of our nation. When Ken Burns spoke at Old North on April 16, 2025, he said, “The American Revolution is our epic song, our epic verse — giving ourselves the opportunity to ask ourselves questions central to the creation of the United States. What is the role of government? What responsibilities come with the privileges of citizenship? What would I be willing to risk to do in the service of my country and my principles? What am I willing to die for?”
We couldn’t agree more. At Old North, we teach the history of the American Revolution for many reasons: to provide essential context for where we have been as a country, to challenge our visitors to interrogate the values they hold closest, and to inspire adults and children to take action and create positive change in their communities. Through new additions to our exhibits, online Speaker Series talks with leading historians, and educational curricula used by thousands of students across the country, we spent 2025 fostering dialogue about what it means to pursue liberty and justice for all. We invite you to join the conversation in 2026 and beyond.
Read Old North Illuminated’s 2025 Annual Report.
