Lantern signal tradition (Old North Church)

Old North Church (Christ Church) at 193 Salem Street is the site associated with the famous lantern signal of April 18, 1775-"one if by land, two if by sea"-used to warn of British troop movements. The lantern story is a central piece of Revolutionary War folklore and is presented in tours and reenactments at the church. Some historians debate aspects of who placed the lanterns and the precise circumstances, so elements of the tale are treated as tradition rather than settled fact.