Day 19: Friday, the 18th of July, 1775…I mean 2014

294 stairs. 

That’s how high it was to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument. 

Just 294 stairs.

Sounds easy enough, right?

Wrong.

By the time we got to the top, we were sweating and breathing hard. But it was pretty cool at the top. We could look down a narrow shaft, through the grate and see for a very long ways. There was a beautiful view of Boston.

Once we got down the stairs - it took eternity (almost) – we went to the visitor’s center.

This was the biggest battle so far at this time. It was called the battle of Bunker Hill and was fought on Breed’s Hill. It was counted as a victory by both sides.

After we recovered a bit, we walked over to the Old North Church.

Here a brave plan was put into place, and then put into action as Paul Revere and others raced through the countryside, calling the militia to arms and sounding the first call of the American Revolution.

This event was later immortalized by one of my favorite poems;

“Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere. On the 18^th of April in ’75…”

I loved being in this part of Boston. I liked Boston. It was busy, but not as frighteningly busy as New York. 

And in it happened some of the most important events in our history.

There was a wall, outside of the church. Emblazoned into the wall were short biographies of famous people and events that lived or took place in this part of Boston.

Boy was it an overwhelming list! Very fun to read.

We next headed to the North Bridge, where the first redcoat blood was spilt in war, sending the colonies headlong into a long and bloody conflict.  

What an eventful place, and what a treasure it will be to me, to be able to visualize the place where the shot heard round the world was fired!

This was the second battle, and the sight of the first was our stop after we finished with the North Bridge (by the way, it was very beautiful there).

Lexington.

The Minute Men and Militia.

The long (very long for the British), 16 mile road back to the safety of Boston.

This list should strike familiar chords.

We did not visit Lexington Green, but we did go to the National Historic Minute Men Sight (or something like that).

We enjoyed our time there.

After this, we drove. 

And drove. 

And drove.

And drove…