The famous statue of Paul Revere in Boston’s North End, installed in 1940. Photo courtesy of Paul Revere Memorial Association/Paul Revere House

Friday marks the 250th anniversary of  Paul Revere’s ride and the beginning of the American Revolution, at the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Maine’s Henry Wadsworth Longfellow made Revere and his mission to warn people of advancing British soldiers part of our national story with his 1860 poem “Paul Revere’s Ride.”

Two Lights for Tomorrow is a nationwide observance to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the events of April 18-19, 1775, and their importance in the founding of the United States. Communities and organizations all over Maine will be placing two lights in homes or buildings – as mentioned in Longfellow’s poem – in honor of the events. In Portland, two lanterns will be hung in windows at the Wadsworth-Longfellow House and the Maine Historical Society’s Brown Research library all weekend long.

Here’s a list of some of the events in Maine on Friday commemorating the anniversary.

AUGUSTA

On Friday, excerpts of “Paul Revere’s Ride” will be read at 11:30 a.m. in the Hall of Flags at the state capitol by Portland Youth Poet Laureate Yashaswini Derisala. Then at 7:30 p.m., there will be a lantern lighting ceremony in Capitol Park.

PORTLAND

The statue of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, in Longfellow Square, Portland. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald

Lexington to Longfellow: The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere — Tom Putnam of Kennebunkport, former director of the Concord Museum and the John F. Kennedy Library, will give a talk on Revere’s ride, Longfellow’s poem, and the events of April 18 and 19, 1775, Friday at 1 p.m. at the Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St. The event is free but people are asked to register online at mainehistory.org.

One If By Land, Two If By Sea: a Two Lights Commemoration — Spirits Alive and Maine Historical Society will co-host a reading of Longfellow’s poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” by community members at 7 p.m. at Eastern Cemetery, 224 Congress St. The event is free and no registration is required.

ELSEWHERE

Let Freedom Ring is a coordinated bell-ringing event at churches and other buildings around the country around 6 p.m.  In South Portland, the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse bell will be rung at 5:30 p.m. At First Parish Church UCC in Gorham, a Paul Revere bell will be rung.