Our next day in Boston began at the Bunker Hill Monument. 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. The battle was actually misnamed because the majority of the action took place on Breed’s Hill and that is where the monument sits. 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.
Fifty 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 project was ambitious: construct a 221-foot tall obelisk built entirely from quarried granite. It took over seventeen years to complete, but it still stands to this day atop a prominence of the battlefield now known as 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.
A statue of Colonel William Prescott stands in front of the monument. Prescott was credited with instructing his soldiers “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” Erected in 1881, American sculptor William Wetmore Story created the statue, which depicts Prescott moments before giving the command to open fire.
Built in the late 19th century, an exhibit lodge adjacent to the monument houses a small museum. In addition to a diorama of the battle, the museum exhibits include a statue of Warren. You can also view artifacts from the battle, including a snare drum, a cannonball and a sword as well as the trowel Lafayette used to lay the cornerstone.
Joseph Warren was an American physician who played a leading role in Patriot organizations in Boston during the early days of the American Revolution, eventually serving as President of the revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress. Warren enlisted Paul Revere and William Dawes on April 18, 1775, to leave Boston and spread the alarm that the British garrison in Boston was setting out to raid the town of Concord and arrest rebel leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Warren participated in the Battles of Lexington and Concord the following day, which are commonly considered to be the opening engagements of the American Revolutionary War.
Warren had been commissioned a major general in the colony's militia shortly before the June 17, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill. Rather than exercising his rank, Warren chose to serve in the battle as a private soldier, and was killed in combat when British troops stormed the redoubt atop Breed's Hill.
After spending a little time in the museum, we started the climb to the top of the monument. There are 294 stairs to the top, the staircase is narrow and tightly spiraled, and there is just one staircase for everyone, going up or down, so it can get a little crowded at times. It was also one of the hottest days of the trip, and the only ventilation in the staircase were the tiny slot windows that are pretty spread out.
I think this is probably one of the top 5 sweatiest moments of my life, I was soaked in sweat by the time I got to the top, not really from climbing the stairs, that was pretty easy, but it was just such a hot day and the heat just gets trapped in the monument. So, that was fun.
The last step!
Luckily at the top there were a few, slightly larger windows that created a nice cross breeze. As well as a lovely view.
Thank goodness for photo filters ...
After spending a few minutes at the top of the monument, catching our breath and relishing the cool breeze from the windows, he headed back down.
Just in case any of you thought I was exaggerating about the heat and how intense it was, as I was stepping off the last stair in the monument, I saw two rangers putting up this sign ....
They had to close the monument due to heat conditions!! I'm glad we had the opportunity to climb to the top though, it would have been sad to miss out on that.
When we had all made it down from the monument, we sat on the grass and just took a little moment to cool off. I refuse to sit or lay on grass so I sat on the cement curb next to the grass, I have a major grass phobia and this is one of the reasons why.... When we got up to continue our plans for the day, we discovered one of the boys had sat in a huge pile of dog poop. This was our second incident involving poop on/in pants this trip .... they are good memories. So we went back to the gift shop to get him cleaned up in the restroom.
I couldn't resist buying some of this cartridge candy to share with everyone as a way of bolstering some spirits. They were super delicious, they were like big pixie sticks with a gum ball at the bottom.
When everyone was all clean and ready to go, we walked over to the USS Constitution. the neighborhoods in this part of town were so adorable.
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. She was launched in 1797, one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed. The name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in March of 1795 for the frigates that were to be constructed.
Constitution is most noted for her actions during the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom, when she captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The battle with Guerriere earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides" and public adoration that has repeatedly saved her from scrapping.
Constitution's stated mission today is to promote understanding of the Navy's role in war and peace through educational outreach, historical demonstration, and active participation in public events as part of the Naval History & Heritage Command. As a fully commissioned Navy ship, her crew of 60 officers and sailors participate in ceremonies, educational programs, and special events while keeping her open to visitors year round and providing free tours. The officers and crew are all active-duty Navy personnel, and the assignment is considered to be special duty. She is usually berthed at Pier 1 of the former Charlestown Navy Yard at one end of Boston's Freedom Trail.
After throughly exploring America's Ship of State, we continued on our way, following the freedom trail to more historical sites. On our way we walked over a bridge that had these acrophobia friendly areas which I had ever seen before and I thought it was pretty cool.
Next up, Old North Church and Paul Revere's Home!
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