Bunker Hill, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA

On June 17, 1775, the first major confrontation of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Bunker Hill,  was fought here on Breed's Hill just outside Boston, MA.  Although the British won this battle, it marked a moral victory for the patriots by demonstrating that they could and would stand up against the might of the British soldiers.  The rest, as they say, is history.

The 221 feet tall monument was constructed of local Quincy granite in the early/mid 1800's. Access to the top is via an interior winding staircase of 294 steps.  If you make it to the top you will see the city of Charlestown in the foreground and Boston to the south......

......... Charlestown in the foreground and East Boston and Logan Airport to the east...... 

.....and Charlestown in the foreground and Somerville to the west.

The patriots were led by Colonel William Prescott.  He is famously reputed to have said to his soldiers, "do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes," so that his troops would shoot at the enemy at close range,  more accurately and successfully, and also to conserve limited supplies of ammunition.

 

A typical street scene in Charlestown located just below the monument.  Note the gas lamps.

A fountain in City Square in Charlestown.