We're in front of the Paul Revere statue. In the background is the Old North Church made famous by the Longfellow poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere"
He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,--
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm."
Robert Newman was actually the one that climbed the belfry to light the 2 lanterns. The USS Constitution, nicknamed "Old Ironsides" because the live oak wood used for its sides was so strong that when they were in battle, the cannon balls bounced of its sides and landed in the water. This ship went 33-0 before it was retired. Olivia and Jordanne on the middle deck of the USS Constitution. Notice how low the beams are. Sailors were not supposed to be very tall. The Old Manse is a house in Concord that was once occupied by Rev. Emerson. From the back window, they could see the north bridge where the first fighting between the British and the rebels took place. 2 famous authors lived in this house - Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote Nature in this house, and Nathaniel Hawthorne (Scarlet Letter, The Minister's Black Veil)
The Concord River flows behind this house and the North Bridge is in the backyard. In the spring, the ice starts melting, and the Concord River swells its banks. The wall of the banks can be seen under the water.
The house across the river. By the rude bridge that arched the flood their flag to April's breeze unfurled, here once the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard round the world. The bridge The Skyline of Boston from the Prudential Skywalk. The tall building in front is the John Hancock center. The original engineers didn't allow for building sway, so they had a problem with windows breaking and crashing down to the street. Engineers from MIT had to tackle the problem and fix the shape of the windows. Next: Day 3
Other day 2 pics
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,--
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm."
Robert Newman was actually the one that climbed the belfry to light the 2 lanterns.
The Concord River flows behind this house and the North Bridge is in the backyard.
Next: Day 3