Bunker Hill Monument

The Bunker Hill Monument is the first public obelisk erected in the United States. The 221 foot (67 m) granite obelisk erected between 1827 and 1843 in Charlestown, Massachusetts with granite quarried in Quincy, Massachusetts and conveyed to the site by the first railway in the United States, built specially for that purpose.

Related Topics:
Obelisk - 1827 - 1843 - Charlestown, Massachusetts - Quincy, Massachusetts

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Interestingly, the Bunker Hill Monument is not on Bunker Hill but instead on Breed's Hill, where most of the fighting actually took place. The Monument Association, which had purchased the battlefield site, was forced to seal off all but the hill's summit in order to complete the monument.

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The monument was erected to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill, an early American victory in the Revolutionary War, fought there June 17 1775. The first monument at the site was created in 1794 byKing Solomon's Lodge of Masons and was initially an 18 foot (5 m) wooden pillar topped with a gilt urn.

Related Topics:
Battle of Bunker Hill - June 17 - 1775 - 1794 - King Solomon's Lodge of Masons

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Bunker Hill is one of the sites along the Freedom Trail and is part of Boston National Historical Park.

Related Topics:
Freedom Trail - Boston National Historical Park

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