American Revolution Monument

Ashburton Park

The original monument was first installed in 1790 and designed by Charles Bulfinch to honor the beacon that was on appropriately named, Beacon Hill. At times Beacon fires were lit on the hill to communicate messages or warn townspeople of danger. It became a wooden pole on which was a tar bucket, and in case of emergency someone would climb the pole and ignite the bucket. This was commemorated in the Bulfinch monument with the gilded eagle on top.

Boston was initially called Tri-mount for the three hills of this area of Boston. Those were Mount Vernon, Beacon, and Pemberton. Tri-mount was corrupted into Tremont, and remembered as a street name. As the hills were removed to be leveled out and create land around Boston the original monument was dismantled. The eagle and column are new but the panels on the sides are replicas from Bulfinch’s monument.

This was the first monument commemorating the American Revolution in the USA. This monument represents the mixed legacy of the American Revolution after the war. The nation was in a fragile state and celebrating violent mobs wasn't conducive to nation building. So certain events were commemorated, and others were ignored. This is why much was written in a passive voice and Samuel Adams - a key rabble rouser was entirely ignored.

(See Video {in app while at location} for source material)

-Source Links-

https://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?item_id=589&pid=15

http://www.wfrjr.com/data/monument/Boston/Eagle.html

https://www.loc.gov/item/2003654250/