Monument

BHMA HISTORY:

On May 10th 1823, a meeting was held at the home of Col. Perkins, a wealthy Boston Merchant. Those in attendance agreed to start the Bunker Hill Monument Association. The BHMA was incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a private organization with the objective of purchasing land on the June 17, 1775 battlegrounds and constructing a monument to memorialize the battle as well as the birth of our nation.

The BHMA purchased 15 acres of Russell’s pasture, which was located on Breeds Hill  also part of the larger Bunker Hill. The BHMA Board of Directors laid the monument cornerstone on June 17, 1825. Over 100,000 people attended the event which was led by The Marquis de Lafayette who helped the Patriots overcome the British forces during the Revolutionary War. Daniel Webster gave the oration. The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons led the memorial service. Reverend Joseph Thaxter who was wounded in the battle offered a prayer including 190 Veterans who participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Some of the land purchased by the BHMA was sold at an auction in 1839 as building lots. The money was used to pay off a loan and build the monument. The lots became home sites for what is known today as Monument Square.

The monument would not be here today without the efforts of the BHMA. They initiated the idea of a memorial. They created the design competition, selected the design and architect. BHMA selected the superintendent and oversaw the construction all while scrambling to raise donations, which were often as small as 25 cents.

It took 16 years to complete the construction of the Bunker Hill Monument because of insufficient funding. Fortunately Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor and publisher of Godey’s Ladies Book a ladies literary magazine saw the opportunity to enlist woman in the quest to complete the Monument. On September 8th 1840 for 7 days, the Ladies Fair was held at Quincy’s Market and raised $33,035.

Once the construction was completed the BHMA oversaw the daily operations of collecting fees, maintaining the grounds and sharing with the public the rich history of the Battle of Bunker Hill to keep it alive through annual commemorations.

In 1919 after managing the site for 77 years the BHMA turned the memorial over to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1976, the Monument and Park were turned over to the National Park Service which is part of the Department of Interior.