Old North Church

Old North Church (Christ Church) is at 193 Salem St. at the foot of Hull St. Sit in a pew in the oldest surviving church building in Boston, where “one if by land, two if by sea” signaled a revolution—the American Revolution, to be specific. On the evening of April 18, 1775, two lanterns were displayed in the steeple to signal that British soldiers were advancing on Lexington by sea and not by land. The steeple has been destroyed and replaced twice following violent storms; the present 191-foot steeple dates from 1954.

The church, built in 1723, has box pews, large windows and the pulpit from which President Gerald R. Ford initiated the celebration of the nation's bicentennial. Docents regularly offer 5- to 7-minute presentations relating the church's history. Seasonal highlights include the 30-minute Behind the Scenes Tour, which offers visitors access to normally restricted areas of the building.

Note: Worship services are held Sunday mornings. Open to the public Sunday at 12:30 p.m.; Tuesday-Saturday at 10 a.m.

Guided tours are available.