Boston National Historical Park

Locations

The Bunker Hill Monument, a granite obelisk atop Breed's Hill in Charlestown, commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill of June 17, 1775. Construction began in 1825, and the monument was dedicated in 1843; the National Park Service owns and administers the property. Across the street, the NPS operates a small museum featuring a large-scale diorama of the battle on the second floor. Established in 1800, it served as a U.S. Navy base until decommissioned in 1974; the Navy transferred part of the property to the NPS in 1976, with the remainder going to the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

USS Constitution, the oldest floating commissioned naval vessel in the world, is docked there, and the adjacent USS Constitution Museum displays exhibits about the ship. Next to Constitution is USS Cassin Young DD-793, a World War II destroyer operated as a museum ship. Dorchester Heights in South Boston was fortified by General George Washington in March 1776, forcing the British to leave Boston and ending the Siege of Boston. The top of Telegraph Hill became Thomas Park in 1854, and the Dorchester Heights Monument was erected there in 1892; this site is not on the Freedom Trail.

Faneuil Hall, built in 1742, hosted important pro-independence speeches and served as Boston's town hall until 1824; the city of Boston owns and operates it, while the park service gives talks in the Great Hall. The Old North Church, built in 1723, is where Paul Revere arranged for two signal lanterns to be shown on April 18, 1775, before his midnight ride. It is the oldest operating church in Boston, with an Episcopalian congregation still meeting there; Old North Illuminated, a nonprofit, oversees tourism and preservation.

Did You Know?

• Boston National Historical Park, along with Boston African American and Boston Harbor Islands, comprise the National Parks of Boston, all under the same superintendent.