The
Bennington Monument (Bennington,
Vermont) was built over a period of four years from 1887 to 1891 to
commemorate the location of the
military stores over which the
Battle of
Bennington was fought. Standing at 306 feet, the
stone monument was the largest monument to
war in its time. It is located in the center of
historic Bennington, right across the street from the
Catamount Tavern, where
Ethan Allen and the
Green Mountain boys dwelt, and up the street from both
Robert Frost’s grave and the
Hemming’s Motor News garage.
History
The monument commemorates the
American victory over the
British during the
Revolutionary War in 1777. It sits at the location where an important store for weapons and food were centuries ago. British
General Burgoyne and his forces were on there way to
New York to
fight, when they found out that the military stores at Bennington weren’t under military supervision. The British troops were
famished and in much need of the stores. To make sure there would be enough room and food, the British sent warning ahead to the local
tavern (
war was different back then!) The local tavern, The
Catamount Tavern, happened to be the
headquarters of Ethan Allen and The Green Mountain Boys (
the rooten-tootenist fighting force east of the Mississippi) who were very interested in the news. Forces came in from
New Hampshire, and the
Rangers of Vermont. The actual battle happened more towards the Vermont-New York border. Needless to say the American forces came out
victorious.
The Bennington Monument is basically a scaled down
Washington Monument, but much more interesting. The stones that make it up contain numerous
fossils that you can touch as you
scale the many
steps. The last time I went there was on a
7th grade field trip. It was a clear
bright day, which was promptly spent
lounging on the lush
grass that surrounds the monument. To just lay there and think that it was built in 1887; what a feat it is! Growing up in a
rural (
RURAL!) Vermont town, I couldn’t tell
cities apart from each other, except for Bennington. As we drove towards the city the great monument rose up from the
mountains. I could tell were we were, for it was my
lighthouse.
Recommended
The
best times to view the monument would be any
sunny clear
summer day, for on such a day it is possible to see into
New York State from the top. If possible, I highly recommend that you go to the
cemetery that is on Monument Ave. and search for Robert Frost’s
grave.
Directions
Bennington, VT 05201 (Off Route 7)
Go west on
Main St. and turn
right on to Monument Avenue. At the top of Monument Avenue. you will see The Bennington Monument.
Parking is available at the base of the monument. (or just head towards the huge stone monument!)
Sources:
- My 7th grade notes (why did I ever save those?)
- Sweet Memories