Introduction
Sticking out like a needle from the peak of Breed’s Hill, the Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the site of the historic 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill (inaccurately named since most of the battle took place on Breed’s Hill). Located in present-day Charlestown, a suburb to the north of Boston, the Bunker Hill Monument represents a palimpsest – despite transforming over time to reflect cultural progress and urban development, the site of the monument still endures the original historical significance of the Revolutionary war battle. The monument and its surrounding areas have been considerably influenced by 4 distinct time periods and historic events: the American Revolution, the rise of the Boston Brahmins, Charlestown’s residential development, and the monument’s ultimate transfer of ownership to the National Park Service.