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Description
– “Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere… ” On April 18, 2026—the anniversary of the most famous horse ride in American history —author Kostya Kennedy will visit the New Haven Museum to present little-known aspects of a beloved story in, “The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America,” based on his book of the same title. The free NHM250 event will be held at 2 p.m. and preceded by a reception at 1:30 p.m.
Revere, a Boston-based silversmith, engraver, and staunch anti-British political operative, inspired the poem and legend of “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.” But, according to Kennedy, the story of Revere’s ride to warn of approaching British troop is deeper and richer than previously assumed. “That night in in 1775 was 12 hours that changed the world,” Kennedy says.
Revere was not the only rider that April night in 1775, but he was by far the most critical. The patriots’ best and most trusted “express rider,” he had already completed at least 18 previous rides throughout New England, disseminating intelligence about British movements. But this ride was like no other, Kennedy asserts, and its consequences in the months and years following—as the American Revolution transitioned from isolated skirmishes to a full-fledged war—became one of our founding tales.
“There’s a layered story to Paul Revere’s ride, a story that speaks directly to the tenor, values and resolve of America’s founding,” Kennedy says. “Without the ride the course of the nation’s history would have begun much differently than it did.”
Working from his dramatic new narrative of Revere’s ride, informed by fresh primary and secondary research into archives, family letters and diaries, contemporary accounts, and more, Kennedy will show the historic event to be vastly more complex than usually portrayed. It was a coordinated ride of some 40 men that included near-disasters, capture by British forces, and ultimately success. While Revere was central to the ride and its plotting, Kennedy will highlight myriad other men and women who proved crucial to the events that helped set in motion what would lead to America’s independence. He will also dispel some of the myths around the legend, including that of Revere purportedly saying, “The British are coming!” during the ride.
The notion of acting at great personal risk for a principle much larger than oneself resonates through history. Kennedy notes that today, groups and individuals across the political spectrum and from any number of societal perspectives still cite Revere, and his ride, as inspiration. “It’s another reminder of how relatively small actions, and a relatively small network of people, can have an enormous impact,” he adds.
About NH250
This event is part of NH250, an ongoing series of programming developed by New Haven Museum to complement “America 250.” Culminating with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the series will highlight inclusive, local, and lesser-known stories, connecting past and present.
About Kostya Kennedy
Kennedy is editor in chief of Premium Publishing at People Inc., and a former senior writer at Sports Illustrated. He is the author of The New York Times bestselling “56: Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number in Sports,” “Pete Rose: An American Dilemma,” and “True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson.” All three won the CASEY Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year. He has taught at Columbia University and New York University.
About the New Haven Museum
The New Haven Museum has been collecting, preserving and interpreting the history and heritage of Greater New Haven since its inception as the New Haven Colony Historical Society in 1862. Located in downtown New Haven at 114 Whitney Avenue, the Museum brings more than 375 years of New Haven history to life through its collections, exhibitions, programs and outreach. As a Blue Star Museum, the New Haven Museum offers the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, free admission all year. For more information visit http://newhavenmuseum.org or @NewHavenMuseum or call 203-562-4183.
Date & Time
Sat, Apr 18, 2026 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Venue Details
New Haven Museum
114 Whitney AvenueNew Haven, Connecticut 06510
