The Bunker Hill 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.
Why is there an obelisk in Boston?
The Bunker Hill Monument is a monument erected at the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill in Boston, Massachusetts, which was among the first major battles between British and Patriot forces in the American Revolutionary War.
How many died at Bunker Hill?
However, by the end of the engagement, the casualties of the Battle of Bunker Hill were high: Patriot gunfire had cut down some 1,000 enemy troops, with more than 200 killed and more than 800 wounded. More than 100 Americans perished, while more than 300 others were wounded.
What is the significance of the Bunker Hill Monument?
The Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown, Massachusetts, commemorates a pivotal early battle in the American war for independence. It is the first colossal obelisk erected in the United States.
Did people watch the Battle of Bunker Hill?
5. A future U.S. president watched the Battle of Bunker Hill. In Boston and neighboring communities, curious colonists climbed roofs, steeples and hills to watch the battle unfold.
Why did Battle of Bunker Hill happen?
Boston was being besieged by thousands of American militia. The British were trying to keep control of the city and control its valuable seaport. The British decided to take two hills, Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill, in order to gain a tactical advantage. The American forces heard about it and went to defend the hills.
Why did America lose the Battle of Bunker Hill?
Often obscured by the moral victory earned by the patriots is that they ultimately lost the military battle. After the colonial militiamen repelled the first two British assaults, they ran out of ammunition during the third attack and were forced to abandon their redoubt.
How many British soldiers died at Bunker Hill?
In just two hours of fighting, 1,054 British soldiers—almost half of all those engaged—had been killed or wounded, including many officers. American losses totaled over 400. The first true battle of the Revolutionary War was to prove the bloodiest of the entire conflict.
How did the Battle of Bunker Hill get its name?
The battle is named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which was peripherally involved in the battle. It was the original objective of both the colonial and British troops, though the majority of combat took place on the adjacent hill which later became known as Breed’s Hill.
