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What is the big monument in Boston?

The Bunker Hill Monument was the first public obelisk in the United States designed to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill. The battle was actually misnamed because the majority of the action took place on Breed's Hill and that is where the monument sits.



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The Bunker Hill Museum, the Lodge, and the base of the Monument are accessible. The top of Bunker Hill Monument is only accessible via 294 stairs in a tight spiral stairway.

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Please note: Only 20 people are allowed in the Monument at a time. The last climb is 30 minutes before closing. The Monument may close for climbing due to weather conditions and/or other safety considerations. Bunker Hill Museum: Open 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

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There are no fees at the federally or municipally owned historic sites within Boston National Historical Park. This includes Faneuil Hall, Bunker Hill Monument, Bunker Hill Museum, USS Constitution, and Dorchester Heights Monument.

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There is no elevator to the top, so it's a bit of a workout getting there. But climbing the 294 steps to the top is well worth it when you see the view!

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The monument is 294 steps. Assuming you and your party are in reasonably good health the round-trip is under 30 minutes - it will depend on how much time you want to spend enjoying the view from the top!

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Bunker Hill Monument is one of the must-visit sites on your Boston itinerary. The monument is located in the Charlestown neighborhood, near the Charles River and the Charlestown Navy Yard. A guided walking tour along the famous Boston Freedom Trail will take you to this iconic site.

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Bunker Hill Museum Along with dioramas and murals, artifacts from the battle itself on display include a cannonball; a snare drum; a sword; a masonic apron belonging to revolutionary leader Dr. Joseph Warren, who perished in the fight; and a trowel used by the Marquis de Lafayette in the groundbreaking.

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The battle produced the American Revolution's first martyr, the charismatic Sons of Liberty leader Dr. Joseph Warren. After the battle, the British buried him in a shallow grave along with a farmer also killed in battle.

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Scholars believe that obelisks represented eternity and immortality, and their long, tapering form functioned to connect the heavens and the earth. Their pinnacles were typically covered in gold to reflect the sunlight.

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An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, tapering monument that ends at the top with a pyramid. They were carved from a single piece of stone, whereas modern ones tend to be made from several stones and are often hollow.

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The National Park Service took control of the monument in 1976 when it became a part of the Boston National Historic Park. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, it was added to the National Historic Register five years later. Today, the Bunker Hill Monument is a stop on the Freedom Trail.

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Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge links Charlestown and the Bunker Hill Monument with downtown Boston's North End. Enjoy great views from the parks on the Boston side. Photo opportunities are especially valuable around sunset. You may not walk across the bridge, although pedestrian river crossings are available nearby.

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The famous order Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes was popularized in stories about the battle of Bunker Hill.

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Within the plans for the redevelopment, there was a section for the rehabilitation of the buildings of Bunker Hill. The section was slated to preserve the historical buildings of Bunker Hill, but instead were demolished since there was no actual rehabilitation planned.

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It is our monument.1 Throughout the 1900s, activists held protests regarding the Vietnam War and civil rights issues around the monument. Visitors may climb the monument's 294 steps. A museum across the street has exhibits about the community, monument, and battle.

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