Bunker Hill Monument
43 Monument Square, Charlestown, MA
Bunker Hill Monument
Date of Battle: June 17, 1775
The Battle
British reinforcements arrive in Boston a month after the Siege of Boston begins. Believing that the British are preparing to capture high ground around Boston, New England commander Artemas Ward approves the occupation of Bunker Hill an effort to oppose the British move. Generals Israel Putnam and Joseph Warren support Colonel William Prescott, who throws together a defensive line on Breed’s Hill, just in front of Bunker Hill.
The British, under the command of General William Howe, make several attempts to take the hill with direct assaults, only to be pushed back each time. Finally, running out of ammunition, the Americans abandon their position in the final assault. General Warren is killed during the withdrawal. Although the British take the hill, they do so at a terrible cost. The battle is the bloodiest day of the war for the British.
Visiting the Battleground
Atop Breed’s Hill stands the Bunker Hill Monument, with its cornerstone set by the Marquis De Lafayette fifty years after the Battle of Bunker Hill. The 221-foot-tall obelisk, built entirely from quarried granite, marks the site where Provincial forces constructed an earthen fort (redoubt) in advance of the battle. The Bunker Hill Monument, Lodge, and Museum are managed by the National Park Service.
Address: 43 Monument Square, Charlestown, MA
Entrance Fee: None
You can visit three sites at which the National Park Service interprets the Battle of Bunker Hill:
- Bunker Hill Monument: The 221-foot obelisk, commemorating the American Revolution's first major battle, was dedicated in 1843. When it is open, you can climb 294 steps to reach the top.
- Lodge: The structure, adjacent to the Monument, was built in 1901 to house a statue of Doctor Joseph Warren who was killed in the battle.
- Bunker Hill Museum: The museum contains exhibits and dioramas about the Battle of Bunker Hill and the construction of the Bunker Hill Monument.
Check the National Park Service Bunker Hill Monument web site for information on hours of operation.
→ Have you been here? Do you have suggestions for others who are passionate about history and want to make the most of their visit, or recommendations for things nearby that every history lover should see? Please send them in and we may add them to this page.
Contributor: This list of major Revolutionary War Battles and descriptions was written by Michael Troy, the creator and host of the American Revolution Podcast, who selected these sites and described the battles.
Photo: “Bunker Hill #2”, by Natalie Maguire is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Editor: Creation of this trip, including additional research on visiting these historic sites by Donna Keesling, editor at The History List.
Updated April 8, 2022
List of trips to this site
- Major Battles of the Revolutionary War Worth Visiting
- The Freedom Trail in Boston, MA for History Lovers
- Road Trip to the Major Battlegrounds of the American Revolution