Dorchester Heights Monument facts for kids
The monument in 2011
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 Location in Boston
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Coordinates | 42°19′58″N 71°02′45″W / 42.332860°N 71.045769°W |
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| Location | Dorchester Heights, Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Designer | Peabody & Stearns |
| Material | Marble |
| Length | 18.3 feet (5.6 m) |
| Width | 18.3 feet (5.6 m) |
| Height | 115 feet (35 m) |
| Beginning date | 1899 |
| Completion date | 1902 |
| Dedicated to | American victory in the siege of Boston |
The Dorchester Heights Monument is a tall, impressive monument in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It's made of white marble and stands 115 feet (about 35 meters) high. This monument celebrates a big American victory during the American Revolutionary War. It marks the spot where General George Washington helped force British troops to leave Boston in 1776. The famous architectural firm Peabody & Stearns designed it. It was officially opened on March 17, 1902, a day now known as Evacuation Day in Boston.
Contents
History
How the Monument Came to Be
The American Revolutionary War began with American troops surrounding Boston, which was held by British forces. This was called the siege of Boston. In 1776, General George Washington made a smart move. On March 4, his troops secretly built strong defenses, called redoubts, on top of Dorchester Heights. This high ground overlooked Boston Harbor.
The British commander, General William Howe, saw that his ships and soldiers were now in danger. Because of this, he decided to leave Boston. On March 17, 1776, the British troops left the city. This was the first major American victory in the war, and Washington's first big win. Today, March 17 is a special holiday in Boston called Evacuation Day.
The area where the redoubts stood became a public park in 1853. It was called Thomas Park.
Building the Monument
In 1898, the government of Massachusetts decided to build a monument at Dorchester Heights. They wanted to remember the important events that happened there. They set aside money for the project.
A special committee chose a design from several architectural firms. In October 1899, the design by Peabody & Stearns was picked. Construction on the monument began in 1899 and finished in 1902. More money was added to the project over these years to make sure it was built well.
Dedication Ceremony
The monument was officially opened on March 17, 1902. This was exactly 126 years after the British left Boston. The day was a big celebration.
A parade of United States Marine Corps members marched, and important guests, like the Governor, rode in carriages. When everyone gathered at the monument, the Marine band played "The Star-Spangled Banner". The Governor gave a speech. Then, a special tablet on the monument, which had been covered by American flags, was uncovered. The band then played "America".
After this, the celebration moved to a nearby high school. There was music from an orchestra and a quartet. Important people like William Fairfield Warren, the president of Boston University, gave prayers. A famous singer, Alice May Bates Rice, sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." A politician named Henry Cabot Lodge also gave a speech. The ceremony ended with more music.
The monument and park were renovated many years later. On June 21, 1997, the monument was rededicated after a big update.
Design
The Dorchester Heights Monument looks like a tall tower. It is built in a style called Georgian Revival. The main part of the monument is a four-sided structure that rises 60 feet (about 18 meters) high. It has small balconies on each side.
At the top of this main part is a platform with a railing. On top of this platform is a smaller tower. This smaller tower has an observation platform where you can see great views of Boston, Boston Harbor, and the area around it. The very top of the monument has a small dome and a spire with a weather vane. The total height of the monument is 115 feet (about 35 meters).
The monument is made of white marble. Its design was meant to look like the tall steeples of old colonial meeting houses. The main entrance is on the east side. On the west side, there is a special tablet with gilded (gold-colored) letters. The words on the tablet were written by Charles William Eliot, who was the president of Harvard University.
The inscription on the tablet says:
ON THESE HEIGHTS / DURING THE NIGHT OF MARCH 4 1776 / THE AMERICAN TROOPS BESIEGING BOSTON / BUILT TWO REDOUBTS / WHICH MADE THE HARBOR AND TOWN / UNTENABLE BY THE BRITISH FLEET AND GARRISON / ON MARCH 17 THE BRITISH FLEET / CARRYING 11000 EFFECTIVE MEN / AND 1000 REFUGEES / DROPPED DOWN TO NANTASKET ROADS / AND THENCEFORTH / BOSTON WAS FREE / A STRONG BRITISH FORCE / HAD BEEN EXPELLED / FROM ONE OF THE UNITED AMERICAN COLONIES
This monument is one of several in Boston that remember events from the American Revolution. Others include the Beacon Hill Monument and the Bunker Hill Monument.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento de Dorchester Heights para niños
