The Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown, Massachusetts, stands as one of the best examples of a Revolutionary War monument, preserving the memory of that war over centuries and contributing to American patriotism and identity. The monument, a 221-foot-high obelisk, was intended to stand as an eternal marker of American bravery at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and although it has largely served that purpose its meaning has also changed subtly over the years, reflecting the changing nature of the public memory of the Revolutionary War.

The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first full-scale military engagement of the Revolutionary War, and although the British won the battle the Americans proved that they were capable of fighting head-on against better trained and prepared professional soldiers who were among the most impressive military forces of that time. The battle took place on June 17, 1775, on Breed's Hill...