“ONE IF BY LAND, AND TWO IF BY SEA”

Built in 1723, the Old North Church was inspired by the works of Christopher Wren, the British architect that rebuilds London after the great fire.
The steeple was the highest point on the highest ground in the city of Boston, so that when both lanterns were lid by Robert Newman on April 18 1775, the lanterns were seen very well and alarm the Patriots in Charlestown that the British were advancing by boat across the Charles River. “one if by land, and two if by sea”, poem immortalized by Longfellow.
Two lanterns were hung just for a minute to alert the Melissa that the British were coming by sea over the Charles River “one if by land, and two if by sea”.
This site was the very beginning of the battle of Lexington, the battle of Concord, and the American Revolution.