Paul Revere’s Ride: The Poem That Made a Legend
From Our American Stories by iHeartPodcasts
May 1, 2026 · 8 min
About this episode
This episode explores the historical significance of Paul Revere's ride and the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that shaped its legacy in American culture.
On this episode of Our American Stories, on April 18, 1775, a Boston silversmith set out on horseback with a warning that would travel from town to town in the dark. The ride itself was real, but the version most Americans remember came later, shaped by a poem that gave it a place in the national memory. In this dramatic reading, American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalizes Old North Church and Paul Revere in American folklore. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Topics covered
- American history
- Paul Revere
- Longfellow
- folklore
- poetry
- national memory
Keywords
- Paul Revere
- Longfellow
- American folklore
- historical poetry
- Boston history
- April 18, 1775
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Boston, Old North Church
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