Paul Revere House Events in February

February school vacation seems to be coming early this year in greater Boston, what with all the snow keeping schools closed. By the middle of next week, when the schools are actually scheduled to be closed, families could be so desperate to get out of the house that they might brave the worst blizzards.

Fortunately, the Paul Revere House will be open with some special vacation-week programs.

Wednesday, 18 February, 10:30 A.M. to 12:00 noon
The Revere Family at Work
Children (and their accompanying adults) tour the Revere House to learn about the jobs Paul Revere’s family did both in and out of their home. Each participant stuffs and sews a headache bag and engraves a design on a piece of copper to take home. Limited to 20 people. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the Revere House at 617-523-2338. Fee: $4.50 for children ages 5-11 and accompanying adults. Price includes admission to the Revere House.

Thursday, 19 February, 11:00 A.M.
Kids’-Eye-View Tour of the Paul Revere House
Designed especially to answer kids’ most pressing historic house questions: Where did 16 children sleep in this house? How did they bathe & where did they go to the bathroom? Why didn’t playing cards have numbers? And who was this Paul Revere guy anyway? Limited to 20 people. Reservations are required. Fee: $4.50 for children ages 5-11 and accompanying adults. Price includes admission to the Revere House.

Friday, 20 February, 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon
Drop-In Colonial Kids Activities
We will open up the first floor of the Pierce/Hichborn House and encourage you to drop in to try on clothes like Paul Revere’s kids wore, and play the same kinds of games they played in an informal setting. This program is free with admission to the house, and reservations are not required.

Saturday, 21 Febuary, 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M.
Vera Meyer on the Glass Harmonica
At the Old South Meeting House
Treat your family to the ethereal tones of this fascinating instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761. Music will range from special works by Mozart and Beethoven to your requests! Between songs, the musician will answer questions and provide details about the instrument’s history. Included with admission to Old South: $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors & college students, $1.00 for children ages 6-18, and free for Old South and Paul Revere House members.

School Vacation with the Reveres

February in Massachusetts means February school vacation, which means having to find new unusual reasons to get the kids out of the house. The Paul Revere House is offering family programs in which children (and their accompanying adults) will make and take home samples of typical work done by Paul and Rachel Revere.

“The Revere Family at Work”
Wednesday, 20 February, and Friday, 22 February
10:30 to 12:00 A.M.

Both Paul Revere and his wife Rachel worked hard to keep their large family fed, clothed, and healthy. During this program discover what kinds of chores the Reveres (adults and children) completed in each room in their house. Then try your hand at engraving metal as Revere did in his silversmith shop and make an herbal remedy Rachel may have used to treat her children’s headaches. Participants will take home both an engraved piece of copper and a small cloth bag of dried herbs.

Each presentation is limited to 20 people. The fee is $4.50 for children ages 7-11 and accompanying adults. Price includes admission to the Revere House. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the Revere House at 617-523-2338.

Somewhere Sarah Revere (Paul’s first wife) is wondering why she’s not getting any attention. But we don’t have nearly as much information about her as about Rachel, nor any portraits.