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′58.4″N 71°2′44.8″W / 42.332889°N 71.045778°W |
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| Location | Dorchester Heights, Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Designer | Peabody & Stearns |
| Material | Marble |
| Length | 18.3 ft (5.6 m) |
| Width | 18.3 ft (5.6 m) |
| Height | 115 ft (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 structure in Boston, Massachusetts. This monument is made of marble and stands about 115 feet (35 meters) high. It was built to remember an important early American victory during the American Revolutionary War. This victory, called the evacuation of Boston, happened right where the monument now stands.
The monument is located in a public park on Dorchester Heights. This is the spot where George Washington ordered his soldiers to build a small fort, called a redoubt, to defend their position. The monument was designed by the company Peabody & Stearns. It was officially opened on March 17, 1902, which is also known as Evacuation Day in Boston.
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History of the Dorchester Heights Monument
Why was the monument built?
The American Revolutionary War began with American soldiers surrounding Boston. British forces controlled the city at that time. In 1776, General George Washington led American troops to build a fort on top of Dorchester Heights. This surprise move made it impossible for the British to stay in Boston.
On March 17, 1776, British General William Howe and his troops left the city. This event, known as the evacuation of Boston, was the first big American victory in the war. It was also Washington's first win as a general. Today, March 17 is a special holiday in Boston called Evacuation Day. The area where the forts stood became a public park in 1853. It was named Thomas Park and was one of Boston's first public parks.
In 1898, the Massachusetts government decided to build a monument here. They set aside $25,000 for its creation. A committee chose a design from Peabody & Stearns in 1899. More money was added in 1901 and 1902 to finish the project. The monument was built between 1899 and 1902.
Celebrating the monument's opening
The Dorchester Heights Monument was officially opened on March 17, 1902. This was exactly 126 years after the British left Boston. The celebration started with a parade of United States Marine Corps members. The Governor of Massachusetts, Winthrop M. Crane, and other important guests arrived in carriages.
When everyone gathered at the monument, the Marine band played "The Star-Spangled Banner". Governor Crane gave a speech to the crowd. Then, a special tablet on the monument, which had been covered by American flags, was uncovered. After this, the band played "America".
The ceremony then moved to South Boston High School. An orchestra played music, and a prayer was given. Singers performed songs like "Almighty Father" and "The Victor's Return." A famous singer, Alice May Bates Rice, sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." A politician named Henry Cabot Lodge also gave a speech. The celebration ended with more music.
Many years later, on June 21, 1997, the park and monument were rededicated. This happened after a big renovation project that cost $4.8 million.
Design of the Dorchester Heights Monument
The monument looks like buildings from the Georgian Revival style. It has a four-sided base that rises 60 feet (18 meters) from the ground. Each side of this base is about 18.3 feet (5.6 meters) long. Small balconies are on each side. On top of this base is a platform with a decorative fence, called a balustrade.
Another smaller tower sits on this platform. It has an eight-sided top section called an octagonal lantern. There are observation platforms inside the monument. The highest one offers amazing views of Boston, Boston Harbor, and the surrounding areas. The very top of the monument has a small dome, called a cupola, and a pointed top, called a spire. A weather vane sits at the very peak. The monument's total height is 115 feet (35 meters).
The monument is made of white marble. It was designed 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 tablet with shiny, gilded letters. The words on the tablet were chosen 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. Other examples include the Beacon Hill Monument and the Bunker Hill Monument.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento de Dorchester Heights para niños
