Tate House Museum Presents “Birth of the American Revolution”
in collaboration with the Stroudwater Neighborhood Association and Maine Ulster-Scots
Project

Portland—Tate House Museum is commemorating the Semiquincentennial of the events of
1775 that marked the beginning of the American Revolution 250 years ago with a free
program open to the public on the evening of April 18 from 7:00-8:30 pm.
The program will feature the hanging of two lit lanterns on the flagpole at the Means House to
remember the two lanterns placed in the belfry of the Old North Church as a signal that the
British were moving to Lexington-Concord by sea (the Charles River). This action aligns with
a nationwide call for all statehouses in the U.S. to hang “Two Lights for Tomorrow” (see
america250.org/event/two-lights-for-tomorrow) on the evening of April 18.
Our program includes a colonial-dressed portrayal of a member of the Tate family, youngest
son Robert Tate, who trained as a minuteman of Portland (then Falmouth) and was called up
at the Lexington alarm. The program will feature a reading of the Longfellow poem “The
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” and a brief account of James Means and fellow Ulster-Scots
who served in the American Revolution.
The Means House is located at 1267 Westbrook Street in Portland and all are welcome to join
as witnesses in this commemorative event. Mustering begins at 7:00 pm and the historical
program will commence at 7:30 pm. Refreshments provided by the team of collaborators.
For more information about each organization visit their websites: tatehouse.org,
stroudwaterassociation.org, and maineulsterscots.com
FMI: Holly K. Hurd
Tate House Museum
1267 Westbrook Street
Portland ME 04102
hkhurd@tatehouse.org