Dorchester Heights

For 11 months following the battles at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, Boston became the center of a quickly developing war between rebelling colonists and the forces of the British government. Explore this map highlighting the sites of fortifications, confrontations, and conflicts during the Siege of Boston.

Born a free man of color, Luther Jotham trained as a Minute Man in Bridgewater, Massachusetts before serving in the Revolutionary War in Roxbury, Dorchester Heights, New York, and Rhode Island.

Since the actions of the Continental Army here in March 1776, Dorchester Heights has remained a landmark in our nation’s revolutionary landscape. Today, National Parks of Boston stewards Dorchester Heights Monument and looks forward to the next chapter of the Monument’s role in its local community and in helping us reflect on our nation’s founding. This next chapter includes a multimillion-dollar restoration project with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

Boston National Historical Park is planning a multimillion-dollar restoration of the Dorchester Heights Monument atop Telegraph Hill in South Boston with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). This project will restore the 115-foot-tall marble commemorative tower constructed in 1901-1902. It will also replace all hardscapes within the surrounding 5.43-acre grounds around the tower, known as Thomas Park.

Join the National Parks of Boston and South Boston Citizens’ Association for the annual commemoration of Evacuation Day and an announcement of a substantial multimillion-dollar federal investment to restore Dorchester Heights Monument as a local and national landmark.

For Evacuation Day, March 17, 2021, we were very fortunate this year to be able to create and present a video for the people of South Boston and their love for Dorchester Heights. Watch the video and the statements of public officials who helped commemorate Evacuation Day at Dorchester Heights this year.