Dorchester Heights Monument and National Historic Site

Dorchester Heights Monument and National Historic Site Review

In 1776 Dorchester Heights hill commanded a clear view of central Boston, where the British had been under siege since the preceding year. Here George Washington set up the cannons that Henry Knox, a Boston bookseller turned soldier, and later secretary of war, had hauled through the wilderness after their capture at Fort Ticonderoga. The artillery did its job of intimidation, and the British troops left Boston, never to return. The view of Boston from the site is magnificent, particularly if you go during the hours the graceful white tower is staffed. Climb its 93 steps and you'll be rewarded with vistas from the Blue Hills to the Harbor Islands, although the lovely park grounds are a destination on their own on a warm day.