News Release
Photo Courtesy of Tom Zion
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Contact: Namita Raina, 617-821-8927
BOSTON – The National Parks of Boston will begin the more than $30 million restoration of Dorchester Heights Monument on September 15. Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), rehabilitation work will be complete prior to March 17, 2026, Evacuation Day, during the nation’s 250th birthday year. The Monument and its surrounding area will remain closed to the public during the restoration.
"The GAOA funds allow the National Park Service to address deferred maintenance challenges that are needed to properly preserve Dorchester Heights Monument and improve visitor access and enjoyment of it," said National Parks of Boston Superintendent Michael Creasey. "The restoration of the landmark and its surrounding landscape to its former grandeur prior to the country’s 250th anniversary will allow generations of visitors to experience this historic place and understand its significance."
The National Parks of Boston received more than $30 million from the GAOA to restore the iconic 1902 Dorchester Heights Monument tower and surrounding area known as Thomas Park. National Park Service Regional Director Gay Vietzke announced the funding at the Evacuation Day commemoration at Dorchester Heights on Thursday, March 17, 2022. When complete, the project will enable visitors to enjoy the improved public green space and spectacular 115-foot landmark on Telegraph Hill that commemorates a pivotal event of the Revolutionary War.
"Dorchester Heights is the site of the first American victory in the War for Independence. The Monument at the Heights reminds us of Henry Knox's noble achievement, of the sacrifice of the men who fortified the Heights in 1776, not only to drive the British out of Boston, but to ensure that Americans would be able to govern themselves," said Robert Allison, Chair of Revolution 250, a consortium of organizations working together to commemorate the 250th anniversaries of events that led to the American Revolution. "Having the Monument restored in time for the Revolution's 250th anniversary ensures it will continue to inspire all who see it for years to come."
The rehabilitation work will include structural upgrades, masonry restoration, and improvement of the monument’s foundation, superstructure, exterior enclosure, roof, interior stairs, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. The grounds, lighting, and signage will be vastly improved for visitors’ experience.
The project is being financed through GAOA’s National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund. Supported by revenue from energy development, the fund provides up to $1.9 billion per year for five years to make significant enhancements in national parks and other public lands to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors. GAOA, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and other construction funding sources are part of a concerted effort to address the extensive maintenance backlog in national parks.
More information on Dorchester Heights and photos are available online.
About the National Parks of Boston
The National Parks of Boston is a collection of three National Park Service sites – Boston National Historical Park, Boston African American National Historic Site, and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. Established by individual legislation and for designated purposes, the three units have come together under a unified organizational umbrella to collaborate in ways that celebrate our cultural heritage, reconnect people to history and nature, and provide outdoor recreation opportunities on land and on the water. For more information, visit: www.nps.gov/bost, www.nps.gov/boaf, and www.bostonharborislands.org.
Last updated: September 11, 2023