Lantern signals at Old North Church - Prelude to Lexington and Concord

On the night of April 18, 1775, lanterns were displayed in the steeple of the Old North Church to signal the route British troops were taking toward the countryside, a signal that directly contributed to the alerting of colonial militias before the battles of Lexington and Concord. The event is commemorated by the church and by historical interpretation on site. The Old North Church still occupies its original steeple and offers exhibits on its role in the events leading to the opening battles of the Revolutionary War. The lantern signal is part of the documented chain of warnings that mobilized patriots that night.