Bennington Battle Monument

The Bennington Battle Monument is a beautiful 306 foot stone obelisk in Bennington, Vermont. It is the tallest man-made structure in Vermont.

The Battle of Bennington, which took place on August 16, 1777, and is considered a turning moment in the Revolutionary War, is memorialized by the Monument. Colonels Warner and Herrick of Vermont led a force of over a thousand men to victory over two detachments of General John Burgoyne’s British army, which were attempting to capture an arsenal of weapons and food kept where the monument now stands.

The local historical group began planning a monument in 1877. In 1887, the monument’s cornerstone was placed after numerous designs were explored. It cost $112,000 to build and was finished in November 1889. (including the property). Sandy Hill Dolomite, a blue-gray magnesian limestone containing numerous fossils from present-day Hudson Falls, New York, was used to create the obelisk. The dedication events were postponed until 1891, when President Benjamin Harrison joined.

The Friends of the Monument, a non-profit volunteer organization, manages the monument, which is owned by the State of Vermont. Each year, the Monument hosts a number of activities that are open to the public. There is also a 200-foot observation level that may be reached by elevator. Vermont, as well as the states of Massachusetts and New York, can be seen from the observatory.

Looking to explore more beautiful spots in Bennington? Check out the 11 Best Places To Visit/Photograph In Bennington, Vermont!

Monument Specs

• Year completed: 1889
• Dedicated to: The monument commemorates the Battle of Bennington during the American Revolutionary War.
• Artist: J. Phillip Rinn
• Height: 306 feet (93m)
• Material: Blue-grey magnesian limestone (known as Sandy Hill Dolomite from present-day Hudson Falls, New York)
• NRHP: 71000054

Location

• Address: 15 Monument Cir
• Town: Bennington
• State: Vermont
• GPS: Lat 42.88927 Lng -73.21551
• Parking notes: There is a dedicated parking area off Monument Cir right near the Bennington Battle Monument. Parking is free and there are about a dozen spaces.
• Parking directions: HERE
• Location directions: HERE

External Website: https://www.benningtonbattlemonument.com/