Boston: A City Upon a Hill

Battle of Bunker Hill Monument

Located in present-day Charlestown, the Battle of Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the site of the famous 1775 Revolutionary War battle. Through layers of military history, residential development, and public ownership, the site of the monument contributes to our analysis of the city as a palimpsest.

Sign Explaining Battle of Bunker Hill

View of Breed's Hill from Boston Harbor

Military Significance

The “original text” of the city’s palimpsest relates to the monument’s military significance. Originally the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill, Breed’s Hill was fortified by American colonial forces to prevent the British from controlling Boston (1). Although the British ultimately succeeded in gaining control, the battle was considered a pyrrhic victory – a victory won at too great of a cost. More than 1000 of the British army’s 2200 men were wounded or killed (2). In the end, the battle served as a decisive turning point in the war because it demonstrated that the inexperienced American infantry could stand up to the omnipotent British army. Symbolically, the battle is important to Boston because it represents a foundational layer of the city’s palimpsest: through harnessing American patriotism in the fight for independence, the battle reflects Boston’s emphasis on courage and valiance in its military history.

Described in Lowell's Poem: Robert Gould Shaw Memorial in Boston Commons

This idea of courage during military battles is a recurring theme in Robert Lowell’s poem For the Union Dead. Through describing Colonel Shaw’s valiant actions during the Civil War, Lowell emphasizes that courage and patriotism have been – and should continue to be – defining features of Boston. For example, when the speaker characterizes Shaw’s march, he describes, “when he [Shaw] leads his black soldiers to death, he cannot bend his back” (3). In these lines Lowell portrays Shaw as a colonel with an “unwavering sense of responsibility, dignity, and integrity” (4). In fact, when Shaw is eventually buried, his father insists on burying him with his fellow black soldiers rather than constructing a monument. Lowell utilizes this controversial idea to again reiterate the values of the city. By portraying Colonel Shaw as a loyal character with a deeply engrained commitment to the country, Lowell’s poem supports the importance of Boston’s military history to the city’s palimpsest. 

Map of Bunker Hill Before Residential Development

Map of Bunker Hill After Residential Development

Residential Development

In addition to its military significance, in the early nineteenth century, Breed’s Hill began to undergo significant residential development, adding another layer to the city’s palimpsest. In the midst of constructing the monument, the Bunker Hill Monument Association experienced financial difficulties. Without enough money to complete construction, the Association was forced to auction off 60% of the original battlefield. Following this sale, the neighborhood experienced rapid residential development. This residential development broadly reflects the pattern of urban development in Boston. With the opening of several factory mills in the early 1800’s, Boston witnessed an influx of immigrants and the city grew from around 20,000 people to nearly 100,000 residents (5). As a result, the city underwent massive infrastructure development to accommodate its growing number of residents. Although originally a city with a strong emphasis on its military past, Boston began to add additional layers to its palimpsest through this residential development.

Battle of Bunker Hill Museum

Battle of Bunker Hill Museum Exhibit

The Public Realm

Recently, the monument transferred ownership to the National Park Service, a public institution for promoting historical sites. This transfer reflects yet another layer of the city’s palimpsest – a layer which focuses on the “public realm.” As Sennett explains in his theoretical essay, the public realm allow residents to “access unfamiliar knowledge, expanding the horizons of their information” (6). With the transfer of ownership, the monument began several public initiatives. For example, the monument became incorporated into the city’s historic Freedom Trail, a 2.5 mile path through American Revolutionary War sites. In 2008, the National Park Service opened up a free public museum to inform visitors about the historic battle (7). This emphasis on public education contributes to a defining layer of Boston’s palimpsest. However, with each additional layer of urban development, Boston, and more specifically, the Battle of Bunker Hill Monument, “still endures the original historical significance of the Revolutionary War” (8).