Bunker Hill

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The Bunker Hill Monument and Grounds commemorates the Revolution's first major battle.

 
 

About Bunker Hill

On June 17, 1775, New England soldiers faced the British army for the first time in a pitched battle. Popularly known as "The Battle of Bunker Hill," bloody fighting took place throughout a hilly landscape of fenced pastures that were situated across the Charles River from Boston. Though the British forces claimed the field, the casualties inflicted by the Provincial solders from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire were staggering. Of the some 2,400 British soldiers and Marines engaged, some 1,000 were wounded or killed.

50 years after the battle, the Marquis De Lafayette set the cornerstone of what would become a lasting monument and tribute to the memory of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The ambitious project to construct a 221-foot tall obelisk built entirely from quarried granite took over seventeen years to complete. Dedicated in 1843, the Monument stands prominently atop Breed's Hill. Marking the site where Provincial forces constructed an earthen fort, or "redoubt," prior to the battle, this site remains the focal point of the battle's memory.


The Bunker Hill Monument, Lodge, and Museum are National Park Service sites.

Monument & Lodge Hours

To climb the Monument, enter the Bunker Hill Lodge. Visitors can also explore views from the top of the monument through 360 degree Live Webcams.

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Please note:

  • Only 20 people are allowed in the Monument at a time.
  • The Monument may close for climbing due to weather conditions and/or other safety considerations.

Museum Hours

Learn about the Battle and Monument by visiting the Bunker Hill Museum. Here, park staff are available to answer questions and there are restrooms open to the public.

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Admissions

No fees Free admission

Accessibility

AccessibilityThe Bunker Hill Lodge and the base of the Monument are accessible.
No Accessibility The top of Bunker Hill Monument is only accessible via 294 stairs in a tight spiral stairway. For safety, service animals cannot be accommodated inside the Monument.
The Bunker Hill Museum elevator is temporarily out of service. We hope to get it fixed as soon as possible. If you have any questions, or if you need access to bathrooms, please inform one of the on-site Rangers or call 617-242-5641.

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Contact Info

Bunker Hill Museum Phone Number: 617-242-7275

Bunker Hill Museum Address: 43 Monument Square, Charlestown, MA 02129

Email: bost_rangers@nps.gov

 

Things to Do

 

News

 

 

Battle, Monument, and Memory

 
Painting of British soldiers in red coats marching up a steep hill, being attacked by other soldiers
The Battle of Bunker Hill

Learn about this "Decisive Day" through this video series and article.

A white obelisk, the Bunker Hill Monument, against a blue sky with a green tree in the foreground.
Building the Bunker Hill Monument

Discover the great lengths Bostonians went in order to construct the iconic monument memorializing the Battle of Bunker Hill.

grid of 4 images. A pillar; partly constructed and finished Bunker Hill Monument; Group of people
Bunker Hill Memory

How have people remembered the Battle of Bunker Hill and the monument that commemorates it at different moments in history?

 

Virtual Experiences

 

 

 

Map

 
 

Photos

 

Learn More about Bunker Hill

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    Last updated: February 13, 2024

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    Contact Info

    Mailing Address:

    Boston National Historical Park
    21 Second Ave

    Charlestown, MA 02129

    Phone:

    617 242-5601

    Contact Us