Every day, the Idaho State Historical Society works tirelessly to protect and promote Idaho history, and sometimes, in our daily work, we get the chance to align our dedication to state history with national historical moments. In the 1970s, the agency helped lead the celebration of the American Bicentennial, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution and the birth of our nation, and in 2020, we lead the same charge to celebrate women’s history and the centennial passage of women’s suffrage via the 19th amendment to the US Constitution. Today, we are on the verge of another significant milestone, the semi-quincentennial (250th) anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, known as America250. Throughout those 250 years, the United States has certainly witnessed conflict, challenge, and inspiring resilience. Often, those stories manifest at the state and local level, contributing to larger trends and themes in US History. As April is National Volunteer Month, please humor me as we journey back to the Revolutionary War Era, explore the legacy of one of America’s earliest volunteers, Paul Revere, a patriot who risked his life and scarified in support of the idea of democracy, and learn how his story helped inspire the launch of America250 in Idaho. 

Paul Revere, born in 1735 in Massachusetts Bay Colony to a family of French Huguenot descent, grew from a young apprentice silversmith and entrepreneur into a central figure in the Patriot network of Boston. During his adolescence and young adult life, he witnessed the mounting tensions between the colonies and Great Britain—tensions that strengthened with the passage of the Sugar 1764 Act—the first direct tax on the American colonies; the 1765 Stamp Act, and the 1767 Townshend Acts, which taxed imported British goods. Revere responded to these actions by creating silver and copper engravings that depicted anti-British propaganda. In 1773, Revere demonstrated not only leadership during the Boston Tea Party, assisting colonists in the literal dumping of tea into Boston Harbor, but his actions also exemplified his commitment to the cause of liberty. Yet, his role as a messenger, riding through the night to warn patriots Samuel Adams and John Hancock of their impending British arrest, cemented his place in the American imagination. Although the British troops captured Revere and took his horse before releasing him, he was partially successful because he was one component of a larger network of patriots who collaborated with him that night to spread the alarm that the “British were coming.”  

Paul Revere’s midnight ride on April 18–19, 1775, endures in American memory for its dramatic urgency and the enduring symbolism in the modern era. American poet and author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized Revere’s ride in 1860 through his famous poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.” But Revere’s ride carries a more profound lesson that amplifies the significance of the network of individuals who, by acting together, transformed a warning into action and hope into reality. That network included numerous individuals, including Robert Newman and John Pulling, who hoisted two large lanterns from the Old North Church in Boston—one lantern if the British advanced towards Lexington and Concord by land, and two lanterns if they crossed the Charles River by boat. These lanterns served as an early warning of the British invasion and a backup plan if the British captured Paul Revere and his fellow riders, Samuel Dawes, and William Prescott, before they could warn fellow patriots Samuel Adams and John Hancock.  

Revere, Dawes, and Prescott’s movement that night, coupled with the light of those two lanterns, today is a testament to what is possible when we stand united, demonstrate courage in the face of uncertainty, and make sacrifices for the common good. And the story of these courageous individuals, although not Idahoans, inspired America250 state planners from Idaho, Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona, and Virginia to conceptualize how we could use this story as the kick-off for the America250 celebrations nationwide. That collaboration resulted in the national “Two Lights for Tomorrow” campaign, with more than 21,000 events nationwide. Here in Idaho, the state hosted numerous “Two Lights for Tomorrow” events, including several opportunities to participate at Idaho State parks, and a signature event at the Idaho Capitol where, in front of more than 300 guests, Governor Little and First Lady Teresa Little lit lanterns in solidarity with others across the country as a symbol of that enduring revolutionary spirit, and as a call to action to volunteer and give back to your local community. As Idaho prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026, we invite you to examine the broader themes of US History and the ideals that emerged during the Revolution and find the Idaho stories that contributed to the making of modern-day America, because after all, Idaho’s story is America’s story, too.  

Written by HannaLore Hein