Change of Ownership
More than 130 years after the monument’s completion, in 1976, the ownership of the monument was transferred to the National Park Service, a government organization responsible for preserving cultural resources for the “enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations” (1). This transfer of ownership has changed the monument into a “public realm” (2). More than just a commemorative obelisk, the Bunker Hill Monument has become an educational, historical, and cultural center for the public where “people can access unfamiliar knowledge, expanding the horizons of their information” (2).
The monument was incorporated as the terminal stop along Boston’s historic Freedom Trail, a 2.5 mile path that guides tourists through 16 of Boston’s most historic landmarks. Additionally, in 2007, the National Park Service opened the Battle of Bunker Hill Museum to the south of Monument Square to display exhibits recounting the historic battle, the construction of the monument, and the history of surrounding Charlestown. The creation of the Freedom Trail and the museum have transformed the monument and its surroundings into a “public realm” of education and preservation.
1) National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/index.htm
2) Sennett, Richard. The Blackwell City Reader. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2002. Print.