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Charlestown, MA

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Bunker Hill Monument

4.4 (226 reviews)
Open • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Marynell K.

Bunker Hill Monument is a beautiful and historic spot. There are great views with plenty of space to walk around. The lawn is dog-friendly though pets are not allowed inside.

Michelle M.

We did it, climbed the Bunker Hill Monument! When it's open you can climb all 294 steps to see a lovely view of Boston. They advise you can take your time with it, so that's what we did! This encouraged me to not speed up, and everyone inside was friendly. This has become part of the National Parks so there are rangers there for information if you need, plus across the street is a NPS Visitor Center with info to read and this cool miniature display of the Battle of Bunker Hill that reads aloud the story with the press of a button. Definitely a spot to check out, weather permitting if you want to climb up--if it's too hot they close the tower. All in all a cool stop to learn about Boston History on the Freedom Trail.

Robert D.

If you like history this is a great place to go. A great monument on some really beautiful grounds. Another great place to take kids and teach them about American heritage.

Jo S.

Bunker Hill Monument is where Freedom Trail end or it's close to end if you have USS Constitution like we did. So, it's rewarding to see the tall Monument once you walk and cross the bridge to Charlestown. The Monument was built 50 years to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill when the New England soldiers fought and own over the British army. It is a peaceful site and area, with nice benches where you can rest and enjoy the surroundings. I check out the interior - a room with some memorabilia and historic facts to take in. I didn't go all the way up, we were tired of walking all the Freedom Trail by that point and needed to save our energy to finish it. But that would be a cool thing to do and see the views. Going up to the monument makes you discover a nice area of Boston and the monument guides it toward it. If you finish Freedom Trail here, cheers to your accomplishment of walking one of the most interesting historic paths in the country!

Photo 1: Montage of images from the Bunker Hill Monument
Ed U.

If you start your walk on the Freedom Trail in Boston Common, this will be near the end. In fact, the hill climb and the majestic sight of the obelisk was basically the end of my walk because I didn't need to see the USS Constitution. A boat is a boat. Besides, Jamie W and I had walked enough, and it was time for a cannoli break anyway. While it was free of charge to explore the informative exhibit at the base, we didn't climb the 294 steps to the top. What, do I look like a show-off? We did take advantage of the misting machine outside, which moistened us appropriately during a heat wave. To us, that was the true finale of the Freedom Trail. RELATED - Exploring Boston? Here's my collection of places l've tried and reviewed: https://yelp.to/57pful0bhV

Jason B.

The last stop on the freedom trail this a great historic national park. A towering monument with stairs going up to it. There is also a cooling mist on the side of the monument. There is plenty of the room in the park to have a picnic or just enjoy the peach and solitude of a park in the middle of a neighborhood. Didn't have time to go the top of the monument, but there is still plenty to look at around the monument itself. Its a fun educational experience, and dare I say must see experience in Boston.

James R.

Save some energy for this. You climb stairs to get to the monument, and then there are about 300 stairs to the top of the monument. There is a nice little museum at the bottom of the monument. The only bad news is that there is no bathroom at the monument. Great view, though. Put this one on your bucket list.

Dani C.

Be very mindful of their hours. Unfortunately we went on a weekday that the museum wasn't open. It was very strange to see so many local people lying out on the hill where this battle took place. lol. We still learned a lot and made a trip to Warren Tavern after. The American patriots were defeated at the Battle of Bunker Hill, but they proved they could hold their own against the superior British Army. The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major battle of the American Revolution, taking place on June 17, 1775, in Charlestown, MA. The battle was fought between the British Crown and New England forces, and lasted about 2 hours. The battle is named after Bunker Hill, the highest hill, but most of the fighting took place on Breed's Hill. Led by Gen. William Howe, King George's troops climb Breed's Hill in perfect battle formation. Legend has it that as they advance, American officer William Prescott cautions his men not to waste their powder, exclaiming "don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." The British attacked up the hill 3 times, but retreated twice before finally forcing the Americans to surrender due to a lack of gunpowder. Although the British won the battle, their troops count 282 dead and another 800 wounded.

Beca B.

This historical attraction is FREE. With almost 300 steps up the monument, there are great views once you reach the top. Unless you're an athletic person, be prepared for sore legs a couple days afterwards.

Museum
John S.

Full Disclosure: Wear good walking shoes and be prepared for a big hill to climb. Walking the Freedom Trail isn't for the weak. If you do make it this far (and aren't starting here) it might be your toughest battle yet.

Ray F.

This is a must visit. Both the Monument and the Museum. I strongly urge that you do it on foot, following the Freedom Trail. Save it towards the end when you are tired. It will allow you to really grasp the strategic significance of the battle and why this spot was so significant. Tour the Museum first and spend some time at the diorama to get oriented and understand what you will see across the street. The Monument is very impressive on the inside. Walk the grounds and enjoy the views. THEN, why this was where a major engagement took place will make strategic and tactical sense. Although the British forces managed to defeat the rebellious colonists within the hastily dug in positions on the 3rd try when the colonists were out of shot and powder, the British losses were significant and forced the British to leave Boston to refit. As leave the Hill, RIDE back and enjoy a meal with beverages in honor of those that gave their lives.

The Critical J.

PROS: This monument was amazing. nice landscaping, very clean, tiny display of stuff inside the building 10 feet away from it, it's free, and staff is friendly. At the top there's a defibrillator, air vents for a/c, and security cameras for your safety CONS: This has no elevator so it requires you to climb 295 steps. They allow 20 people in at a time which the top room will get cramped OVERALL: I highly recommend you seeing the monument and climbing it if you're able to do so.

Warm days
John M.

Great park! It is the start or end of the freedom channel and this adds to its appeal. This review is more so a review of the whole freedom trail ha ha. So the bunker hill monument is very impressive considering the times that it was built. It's just like the Washington monument in DC. My girlfriend and I visited this around October 2023. I guess it was under maintenance because there was a ton of scaffolding surrounding it. It's found in a great open space with Adirondack chairs. Very quiet. Nice place to spend a warm morning.

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“Bunker Hill is the last stop on the Freedom Trail, and definitely something people should make an effort to see.”

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Skinny House

Skinny House

4.3(15 reviews)
0.7 mi•North End

The Skinny House in Boston can be found along the Freedom Trail, right across the street from…read moreCopp's Hill Burying Ground. This house is known to be the skinniest and more narrow house in Boston, being at about 10 feet wide (and a little shorter inside). This house is known as a spite house, which basically is a home built by an angry neighbor, ex lover, etc to well... be spiteful. There are few more in Massachusetts and not all of them are skinny (or other spite houses for that matter. My husband really loves visiting spite houses whenever we travel and have been to so many on the east coast). Just as other fellow Yelp members had mentioned, there are 2 different stories regarding this home. One story is that a man came back home after serving during the Civil War and found out that his brother had taken most of the property that was left for the both of them. With the small remaining part of the property, he decided to build a tiny home to block the view and sunlight from his brother (out of spite). Another story is that a neighbor decided to build their home to block off the air and light from the hostile neighbor next door (yep you guessed it, out of spite). Although if you do a little research, there are articles that point out that the first story about the two brothers may not be true. But who knows, either way, both stories could be possible. Unfortunately there are no tours, as this home was recently purchased for ~1.2 million and have actually people living in side, you can check out this article to see a few photos inside and the beautiful backyard (https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/2017/04/03/inside-boston-skinny-house/). Cool place to visit for a few photos and to see in person and also another thing to see while walking the freedom trail.

The Skinny House is an interesting little stop while exploring Boston's North End. It's known for…read morebeing one of the narrowest houses in the city and the story behind it is neat. That said, it's really just a quick photo opportunity from the outside, so there isn't much to do here. If you're already in the area, it's worth a quick look, but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit.

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Skinny House
Skinny House
Skinny House

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Prospect Hill Monument - The 4 Story Stone Castle Structure was built in 1903 & is where the first national flag was hoisted by George Washington @ Prospect Hil

Prospect Hill Monument

4.6(34 reviews)
1.7 mi

I run everywhere in Somerville and today's course was through the monument. Nice view during the…read morerun. Grass area someone was working out which was nice as well. Good hill training.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! I LOVE CASTLES! This is one of the Secret…read moreHidden Gems of America that most people have never heard about or been to before. The Prospect Hill Monument is a stone structure in the shape of a mini Castle & is located in Somerville, Massachusetts just outside of Boston. This is a residential area with homes. It is also a historic site & provides panoramic views of Boston & surrounding cities. There is also a small park in this neighborhood here with green grass, park benches & a good spot for picnicking & relaxing. It's great place to visit Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall with a changing natural New England landscape. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PARK OTHERWISE YOU MAY GET A TICKET. Park only at the signs where it says it's OK to Park; it's a residential area. You can also visit here by Mass Transit too. This site is only a few blocks away & up the hill from the bustling heart of Union Square. There are a lot of local businesses & eateries there. The medieval fortress tower was constructed out of stone & steel. It was built in 1903 to commemorate the site's military importance during the Revolutionary & Civil Wars. The Tower stands 4 stories tall. Climb the stairs to the the first outdoor open deck, & you'll see great views of Boston, Somerville, & Cambridge. The inside of the tower & top were open pre-pandemic periodically at various times. Check the website for current info & updates. Be sure to go all around the tower on the ground level. There are plaques with lots of detailed info all around the tower. Also check out all the signs throughout the Park telling you even more info about this spot & how it was instrumental in uniting the colonies. On January 1, 1776, General George Washington himself who would later become the first President of the United States, during the Revolutionary War hoisted the very first national flag of America on this very spot. It was called the Grand Union Flag & predates The Famous Betsy Ross Flag. Our current red & white Stripes with 50 Stars flag is not flown here. Lots of people miss this. Zoom in with your camera & you will see the First Flag of America. The Grand Union Flag is still flown here on top of the tower. It has red & white stripes but with the blue British Union Jack in the corner instead of the Stars. It's Pretty Cool that they still fly our very first national flag here. To make it worth your trip be sure to visit the extremely popular Union Square Donuts which has Great Donuts & is only a few blocks away. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

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Prospect Hill Monument - Green Grass & Trees & benches for picnicking & relaxing @ the park @ Prospect Hill Monument in Somerville MA.. A Free Event/Free Parking!

Green Grass & Trees & benches for picnicking & relaxing @ the park @ Prospect Hill Monument in Somerville MA.. A Free Event/Free Parking!

Prospect Hill Monument - The 4 Story Stone Castle Structure was built in 1903 & is where the first national flag was hoisted by George Washington @ Prospect Hill

The 4 Story Stone Castle Structure was built in 1903 & is where the first national flag was hoisted by George Washington @ Prospect Hill

Prospect Hill Monument - The 4 Story Stone Castle Structure was built in 1903 & is where the first national flag was hoisted by George Washington @ Prospect Hil

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The 4 Story Stone Castle Structure was built in 1903 & is where the first national flag was hoisted by George Washington @ Prospect Hil

USS Constitution - USS Constitution

USS Constitution

4.6(95 reviews)
0.3 mi•Charlestown

The Constitution is still a ship of the line. So there are sailors (USN) around. It is…read moreinteresting touring the vessel. You can see the cannon deck, crew accommodations, officer accommodations, etc. Plus they have a few people below decks explaining things (like different size of shot). Definitely worth a visit if you have any interest in naval history or sailing ships.

The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, was launched in 1797 and is the oldest navel…read morevessel still afloat (it is the second oldest navel vessel still in commission, after the HMS Victory). It is currently docked at Charlestown Navy Yard and visitors can walk onto the ship and tour the ship, for free. The USS Constitution is an active-duty ship operated by the US Navy and you have to pass through security, show your ID, and have your bag X-rayed to visit the ship, but the security staff were very chill. Past security is a visitor center with information and displays about the ship and a ten minute video that plays every 15 minutes. There are also washrooms. There is a ramp to get onto the ship but only the top deck is wheelchair accessible, as you must climb a ladder to get down to the bottom level, and tide conditions may make the ramp unsafe for wheelchairs. So unfortunately people with disabilities or mobility issues may not be able to have the full experience. The ship is well maintained and it was very interesting to view and learn some history. Nearby there is the USS Constitution Museum, which is also free/pay what you can, but there is a suggested donation of between $10 to $25. Unfortunately we arrived only an hour before closing so we didn't have time to visit both the ship and museum, but we did take a look in the gift shop. [Yelp collections: Boston, MA 2025; Cheap Thrills; Pee for free!; Beware of stairs!]

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USS Constitution - Inside museum

Inside museum

USS Constitution - Inside boat

Inside boat

USS Constitution - The captain's cabin.

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The captain's cabin.

Faneuil Hall - 7/22/2024

Faneuil Hall

4.3(150 reviews)
1.2 mi•Downtown

Every time I think of Boston this is one of the first places that comes to mind. Whenever I visit I…read moremake a point to stop here. This is the place where I had my first Boston cream pie and I will never forget it. Feneuil Hall dates back to the 1700s and was created as a meeting Hall and marketplace, but later became a very important site for public speeches during the American revolution. You can still feel the history here in the spirit and the gorgeous architecture of the space. Every time I visit it feels so vibrant and alive. It's almost always packed with people and has a great energy. You can find amazing food here and I wasn't joking about my first ever Boston cream pie. I was born and raised on the west coast and it's just not something that we eat out there. Ever since my first bite, if Boston cream pie is an option anywhere, that is the choice I am making. It's so simple, but so delicious! Boston has so much to see and do. There is such a rich history here that it can be hard to choose just a few activities during a visit. I've been lucky enough to visit many times and do many things here and I would still put Feneuil Hall at the top of my list. Between the architecture, the history and the atmosphere, its's definitely a must-do and you could honestly probably move through this one quickly, but it's much better if you take your time, grab something to eat and just let yourself enjoy being part of the city for a little while.

National Park Service does a great job with narrated lectures of the hall and informal Q&As from…read morevisitors. In our freedom trail tour, we heard about this, so we decided to come back and check it out. We are glad we did, as it was neat to see the paintings, the history of the hall and the history that has occurred in the hall. We were disappointed the third floor artillery display was not available for viewing, as my son was looking forward to seeing it. Evidently the volunteers were not there that day, but we were sorry we were not able to see it. Otherwise, it was a great experience!

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Faneuil Hall - At Faneuil Hall

At Faneuil Hall

Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall

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Bunker Hill Monument - landmarks - Updated October 2026

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