A little reason to celebrate
Bunker Hill Day
History ยท June 17
Bunker Hill Day remembers the Battle of Bunker Hill, an early battle of the American Revolution fought near Boston, Massachusetts.
Bunker Hill Day falls on Thursday, June 17, 2027. That is 233 days away.
The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the first major battles of the American Revolution. Colonial militia dug in on the hills of the Charlestown peninsula, across the water from Boston, and British troops marched up to take the ground.
Most of the fighting actually happened on Breed's Hill, the smaller hill nearby. The name Bunker Hill stuck anyway, which is how history sometimes goes. The British won the position after several assaults, but they lost many soldiers doing it, and the colonists came away knowing they could stand against a trained army.
The battle is also the source of a famous line, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." Historians are not sure who said it, or whether anyone said it in exactly those words, but it has become part of the story.
Today a tall granite obelisk, the Bunker Hill Monument, stands on Breed's Hill in Charlestown. Visitors can climb the stairs inside to the top for a view over Boston and the harbor. In the Boston area the day is marked with parades and local ceremonies, and in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, it is a local holiday.
For anyone farther away, the day is a chance to read about the battle, look at old maps of the peninsula, and picture how close together everything was. The hills, the river and the city sat within sight of one another, and much of that ground is still a neighborhood where people live today.
Ways to celebrate
- Read a short account of the Battle of Bunker Hill.
- Look up a map of the Charlestown peninsula and find Breed's Hill.
- Visit the Bunker Hill Monument if you are near Boston.
- Watch a local parade or ceremony in the Boston area.
- Share the story of the Breed's Hill name mix-up with a friend.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, June 17 |
| 2027 | Thursday, June 17 |
| 2028 | Saturday, June 17 |
| 2029 | Sunday, June 17 |
| 2030 | Monday, June 17 |
Also on June 17
Categories: History days