The 221-foot granite obelisk, a landmark that's visible from miles away, honors the memory of the colonists who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. The rebels lost the battle, but nearly half the British troops were killed or wounded, a loss that contributed to their leaders' decision to abandon Boston 9 months later. The Marquis de Lafayette, the celebrated hero of the American and French revolutions, helped lay the monument's cornerstone in 1825. He is buried in Paris under soil taken from the hill. A punishing flight of 294 steps -- imagine your worst Stairmaster experience, then imagine not being able to quit in the middle -- leads to the top of the monument. It's not a can't-miss experience unless you're traveling with children you'd like to tire out. There's no elevator, and although the views of the harbor and the Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge are good, the windows are quite small.
Across the street is the excellent Battle of Bunker Hill Museum. The ranger-staffed museum, at the corner where Monument Avenue enters Monument Square, holds dioramas, a cyclorama mural, and other exhibits about the battle and the community.
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