Which is older Bunker Hill Monument or Washington Monument?

The Bunker Hill Monument was the nation's tallest memorial prior to the construction of the Washington Monument. It is also the first public obelisk in the country. For a bird's-eye-view of Charlestown and Boston, climb the 294-step spiral staircase to the observation deck at the top of the monument.



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Relatively obscure today, this unassuming stone tower has a unique claim to fame. Built more than 20 years before the better-known obelisk overlooking the National Mall, it was the first monument in the United States dedicated to the American president.

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Work has begun to restore the pyramidion of the Bunker Hill Monument. Expect fencing around a construction zone and scaffolding around the Monument. The monument will remain open as often as possible with potential unexpected closures through the end of 2023.

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Like the rest of old Bunker Hill, the street was demolished during an infamous pique of 1960s “slum clearance” policies that saw the entire neighborhood leveled to raw earth. The last two Victorian homes on Bunker Hill, the Salt Box, left, and the Castle, await a move in 1968.

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Erected on July 4, 1799, Lexington's Revolutionary War Monument is the oldest war memorial in the United States.

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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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The Washington Monument Looks Like an Obelisk Because of Egyptomania. In a technical sense, the Washington Monument isn't an obelisk, because it isn't made from a single piece of stone. That fact makes it no less impressive. Stretching 555 feet in the air, the Washington Monument is the tallest thing in the city.

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The Washington Monument was constructed in two phases after laying the cornerstone in 1848. The color line shows where construction halted in 1856, when private donations to fund the Monument dried up.

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