Bennington Battle Monument

In the summer of 1777 a British army under General Burgoyne was pushing south from Canada, and a detachment set out to capture a supply depot at Bennington. American militia under General John Stark met them first, on August 16, on high ground west of town. Stark's forces, joined by Green Mountain Boys and militia from across New England, overwhelmed the raiders.

The victory cost Burgoyne badly needed men and supplies and helped set up his surrender at Saratoga that autumn, a defeat that convinced France to enter the war on the American side. That chain of consequences is why a small battle at a supply depot earned a monument the size of a skyscraper.

The monument was raised in the 1880s from magnesian limestone quarried in New York and floated and hauled to the site, then dedicated in 1891 in a ceremony that drew the president of the United States. Its Egyptian-inspired obelisk form was a popular nineteenth-century choice for grand memorials, the same shape as the Washington Monument.

Inside, the tower is hollow, and a stairway once let visitors climb to the observation windows near the top. Today an elevator does most of the work, lifting travelers to an enclosed lookout with windows facing all four directions.

From the observation level the land opens out across three states: the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Taconic hills of New York, and the Berkshires of Massachusetts, with the village and its white church steeples laid out below. On a clear day it is one of the great long views in southern New England.

The monument anchors Old Bennington, a preserved colonial settlement of Federal-era homes around a common. Nearby, the Old First Church burying ground holds the grave of the poet Robert Frost, who asked to be remembered with the epitaph that he had a lover's quarrel with the world.

The monument opens in spring and runs through the fall foliage season, its busiest stretch, when the three-state view blazes with color and the tower draws leaf-peepers off the nearby scenic roads.

Summer brings steady visitors and comfortable days for the climb to the elevator. In winter the tower closes, but the grounds and the surrounding historic village remain a quiet, handsome place to walk.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Bennington Battle Monument, in Bennington, Vermont, is a towering stone obelisk commemorating the Revolutionary War Battle of Bennington, and the tallest structure in the state. Rising over three hundred feet, the impressive limestone monument honors the important 1777 battle in which American forces won a significant victory that helped turn the tide of the Revolution. Visitors can ride an elevator up to an observation level for sweeping views across three states and the surrounding countryside, and learn the history of the battle. A striking landmark of Revolutionary history and a superb viewpoint, it draws visitors. With its historic monument and views, the Bennington Battle Monument offers a fascinating destination in Vermont.

You can ride the elevator up the towering obelisk to an observation level for sweeping panoramic views across Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts and the surrounding countryside, learn about the Revolutionary War Battle of Bennington and its significance, and explore the monument grounds. The impressive monument, the elevator ride to the observation level, the sweeping three-state views, and the Revolutionary history are the draws, making it a memorable stop. Standing atop the tallest structure in the state is a treat. With its monument and views, the Bennington Battle Monument offers a rewarding experience in Vermont.

The Battle of Bennington was an important Revolutionary War battle fought in 1777, in which American militia and forces decisively defeated a detachment of British and allied troops seeking supplies, an important victory that weakened the British campaign and contributed to a major turning point of the Revolution. Though the battle was fought nearby, the monument in Bennington commemorates it, honoring the American victory and the men who fought. This significant history gives the monument its meaning. Understanding the battle enriches a visit to the Bennington Battle Monument in Vermont.

The monument's observation level, reached by elevator, is typically open seasonally in the warm months, generally late spring through fall, when the sweeping views are at their best and fall foliage across the three-state landscape is spectacular, one of the most beautiful times. The grounds can be admired year-round, but interior access is seasonal, so checking current hours before you go is wise. For the observation views and, especially, fall foliage, aim for late spring through fall at the Bennington Battle Monument in Vermont.

The Bennington Battle Monument is in Bennington, Vermont, within reach of the Bennington Museum with its Grandma Moses collection, the historic town of Bennington, the Manchester area to the north, and southern Vermont. That makes the Bennington Battle Monument a fascinating stop to combine with the Bennington Museum and the other attractions of the Bennington area on a visit to Vermont.