Bunker Hill Monument - The Battle on Breed's Hill

Bunker Hill Monument - The Battle on Breed's Hill

Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

A stop on Boston Freedom Trail, a free self-guided tour.

You've reached the end of the trail. This granite obelisk, 221 feet tall, marks the Battle of Bunker Hill, fought on June 17, 1775. Here's the twist: most of the fighting actually took place right here on Breed's Hill, not on nearby Bunker Hill.

Colonial militia dug in overnight. The British attacked three times and finally took the hill when the defenders ran out of ammunition, but they lost more than a thousand men killed or wounded. The colonists had proved they could stand against a professional army. Black soldiers, including Peter Salem and Salem Poor, fought here too, and Poor was praised by his officers for his bravery.

You may hear that a commander ordered his men to hold fire until they could see the whites of the enemy's eyes. It's a well-loved legend, but no one knows for sure who said it.

If you're up for 294 steps, climb to the top for the view.

Getting here: From the Navy Yard, follow the red line uphill through Charlestown's streets, about a fifteen-minute walk, to Monument Square.

Did you know?: Raising money to finish the monument took years, and a women's fair in 1840 organized with help from Sarah Josepha Hale helped get it done.

Photo op: Step back to the edge of Monument Square and shoot up to fit the whole obelisk, with the statue of Colonel William Prescott in front.

More on Wikipedia: Bunker Hill Monument · Battle of Bunker Hill · Salem Poor · Peter Salem

Stops on this tour

  1. Boston Common - Where Cows Grazed and Redcoats Camped
  2. Massachusetts State House - The Golden Dome
  3. Park Street Church - Brimstone Corner
  4. Granary Burying Ground - Patriots at Rest
  5. King's Chapel - The Church That Ran Out of Money
  6. Boston Latin School Site - America's First Public School
  7. Old Corner Bookstore - Where Books Changed America
  8. Old South Meeting House - The Tea Party Starts Here
  9. Old State House and Massacre Site - Shots on State Street
  10. Faneuil Hall - The Cradle of Liberty
  11. Paul Revere House - Home of a Busy Silversmith
  12. Old North Church - Two Lanterns in the Steeple
  13. Copp's Hill Burying Ground - A View Across the River
  14. USS Constitution - Old Ironsides Still Afloat
  15. Bunker Hill Monument - The Battle on Breed's Hill