The Bunker Hill Monument is an historical edifice constructed in remembrance of the Battle of Bunker Hill and the colonial soldiers who fought in that conflict and the American Revolution. The monument is in Charlestown, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. The monument is part of the Boston National Historic Park and is open to the public. Visitors can climb the 294 steps to the top of the tower and get a view of Boston Harbor.http://www.charlestownonline.net/bunkerhillmonument.htm

The Bunker Hill Monument actually sits atop Breed's Hill, a smaller hill that stands near the one the battle and monument are named for. During the battle, the colonial commanders had been ordered to fortify Bunker Hill but chose to mount their resistance from Breed's Hill after deeming it a more suitable strategic location.http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/42bunker/42facts1.htm The monument is a popular travel destination, with over 200,000 annual visitors.http://www.charlestownhistoricalsociety.org/continued.html

The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775. British General William Howe had led 3,000 troops to Boston in an attempt to capture the city. Colonel William Prescott and 1,000 colonial troops (800 from Massachusetts, 200 from Connecticut) prepared a defense in nearby Charlestown.http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/42bunker/42facts1.htm It was here that Prescott gave his troops a famous order:http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/bunkerhill.asp

"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!"

The colonial forces repelled three British assaults before they were finally forced to retreat because of low ammunition. It was the first major conflict of the American Revolution. The battle was technically a British victory, but is nonetheless considered a major accomplishment for the colonial forces. The British forces suffered over 1,000 casualties, including a quarter of the officers that were killed in the entire war.http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/visitor/bunker-hill.html

In 1823, the Bunker Hill Monument Association was formed to purchase the battlegrounds and erect a memorial. They selected a Board of Artists, including orator Daniel Webster, that determined the monument's obelisk shape, and began construction in 1827 under architect Solomon Willard. It was finally completed and dedicated on June 17, 1843.http://www.charlestownonline.net/bunkerhillmonument.htm

The Bunker Hill monument is 221 feet high. Visitors can climb the 294 steps to the top get a view of Boston, the harbor, and the Charles River. There is an adjoining museum with information on the site, monument, and the battle it commemorates. Detailed visitor information is posted on the monument's website.http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/bunkerhill.asp

• Location: 43 Monument Square, Charlestown, Massachusetts

• Hours of operation: Museum open daily 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., monument open daily, 9 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

• Phone Number: 617-242-5689