| Bennington Battle Monument |
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The Bennington Battle Monument is a 306' stone Obelisk located at 15 Monument Circle, Bennington, Vermont , very close to the Catamount Tavern where Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys dwelt, and up the street from Robert Frost 's grave. It is open 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week, mid-April to October 31 . The monument commemorates the Revolutionary War 's Battle Of Bennington . It was on August 17 , 1777 , that Brigadier General John Stark and 1,400 New Hampshire Men , aided by Colonels Warner and Herrick of Vermont, Simonds of Massachusetts, and Moses Nichols of New Hampshire , successfully defeated two detachments of General Burgoyne 's invading British army, who were apparently attacking a store of weapons and food maintained on the site. While the battle is recognized as the Battle Of Bennington , it actually occurred over the state line, in New York. In 1877 a local historical society began to plan a monument for the battle's centenary, and considered many designs. One which called for a slender stone column only 100 feet tall was showcased during the battle's centennial celebration, which was attended by President Rutherford B. Hayes . The committee eventually accepted J. Phillip Rinn's design with some changes. The monument's cornerstone was laid in 1887, and it was completed in November 1889 at a total cost of $112,000 (including the site). It is constructed of Sandy Hill Dolomite from present day Hudson Falls, New York , a blue-gray magnesian Limestone containing numerous fossils. Dedication ceremonies were delayed until 1891, when President Benjamin Harrison attended the ceremonies and held a reception at the nearby Walloomsac Inn. The monument is the tallest structure in Vermont . From its observatory level, reached by elevator, one can see Vermont, New York , and Massachusetts . A kettle captured from General Burgoyne's camp at Saratoga is visible in the monument. Statues of John Stark (" Live Free Or Die "), Seth Warner , and other notables ornament the grounds. SEE ALSO |
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