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. The monument was begun in 1827 but construction had to be halted and it wasn’t completed until 1843. The architect, Solomon Willard, had the granite for the 221 ft structure brought in from Quincy, Massachusetts.

The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major conflict of the American Revolution, taking place on June 17, 1775. The American leaders who fought in this notable battle were Colonel William Prescott, Colonel John Stark, and General Israel Putnam. Though the American forces were outnumbered and inexperienced, they surprised the British when they repelled two major assaults. The British won the Battle of Bunker Hill but also suffered the loss of 1,000 British soldiers, compared with 450 soldiers on the American side. The instruction “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes” was given during this battle, though the speaker is unknown.

It was the Battle of Bunker Hill that caused a shift in the attitude of the British, both on an individual and a government level. General Gage was replaced by General Howe after this battle, and Howe was quick to report that more soldiers would be needed. The monument is accompanied by an exhibit lodge which houses a statue of Dr. Joseph Warren, a fallen patriot.