On this day in 1940, a bronze statue of Paul Revere was unveiled in the shadow of the Old North Church. In the crowd of 8,000, stood the sculptor — 79-year-old Cyrus Dallin. He had waited 55 years since a committee had first selected his design to see his statue erected. Not surprisingly, the statue showed Revere astride a horse, as he was during his legendary ride. But Revere's accomplishments did not end with independence. After the Revolution, he opened an iron foundry and in 1801 established the first copper rolling mill in North America. The North End house Revere owned for 30 years has been restored. Open to the public since 1908, it is the oldest building in downtown Boston.