April 2025
Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of Old North Church’s Famous Lantern Signal
The enduring fame of Old North Church began on the evening of April 18, 1775, when allies of Paul Revere climbed the steeple and held two lanterns as a signal that British forces were marching to Lexington and Concord “by sea” across the Charles River. This courageous event helped ignite the American Revolution.
Visitors to Old North will be able to participate in special programming commemorating this momentous milestone throughout 2025.
Lanterns & Luminaries with Ken Burns
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
11am – 12:30pm
Third Lantern Award Honoree: Ken Burns, Award-Winning Filmmaker
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the “two if by sea” lantern signal, Lanterns & Luminaries 2025 will be a unique event filled with commemoration, inspiration, and celebration. Filmmaker Ken Burns will accept the Third Lantern Award, which is presented annually to an individual who embodies the values symbolized in Old North Church’s iconic signal lanterns: leadership, courage, hope, tenacity, and active citizenship.
With Ken’s much-anticipated film, “The American Revolution,” scheduled to air on PBS in the fall of 2025, we cannot think of a better person to honor with the Third Lantern Award in this anniversary year. Ken’s documentaries and approach to filmmaking have been an inspiration as we bring the past to life for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. His films demonstrate time and again that recounting history is not simply a retelling of events and facts — it is finding the human story, the universal experiences that allow us to put ourselves in the shoes of those who lived decades or centuries ago. His masterful storytelling and willingness to face America’s complexity and contradictions head-on have been the platonic ideal we strive for in our interpretation of Old North’s three centuries of history.
For questions about our sponsorship opportunities, which range from $2,500 to $50,000, contact Nikki Stewart at nstewart@oldnorth.com.
Lantern Lighting
April 18 falls on Good Friday in 2025. Old North Church is not just a museum or historic site; it is a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and an active community of Christians who cherish Old North’s place in our nation’s history. As such, an evening celebration is being planned that is befitting of Holy Week and the legacy of the lantern signal. The lighting of the lanterns will be timed with events held at the historic Paul Revere House. Additional details will be confirmed and shared in late 2024.
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