Bunker Hill Monument

This 221-foot granite obelisk commemorates the first major battle of the American Revolution. Visitors can listen to free talks from park rangers, or climb the monument's 294 steps (a brisk ascent takes five minutes) for a breathtaking view of Boston. In front of the tower is a statue of Colonel William Prescott, an American officer whose instructions to troops in the Battle of Bunker Hill—“Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”—have become part of American military lore. Across the street is the Bunker Hill Museum, which features displays of weaponry, a 360-degree painting of the battle, and an enormous diorama of fighting soldiers.