Bennington Battle Monument

State: Vermont. Type: 306-foot stone obelisk commemorating the Battle of Bennington (1777), a Vermont State Historic Site on the National Register of Historic Places. Location: 15 Monument Circle, Bennington, VT 05201. Cornerstone laid 1887; construction completed November 1889 at a cost of $112,000; dedicated 1891 with President Benjamin Harrison in attendance. Built of Sandy Hill Dolomite quarried near Hudson Falls, New York.

The Bennington Battle Monument is a 306-foot stone obelisk marking the site where American militia stored supplies that British and allied forces attempted to seize during the August 1777 Battle of Bennington, a Revolutionary War engagement whose outcome helped set up the later American victory at Saratoga. Planning for the monument began in 1877, tied to the battle's centenary, and construction ran from a 1887 cornerstone-laying to completion in November 1889, at a reported cost of $112,000. The monument was formally dedicated in 1891, with President Benjamin Harrison attending and a reception held at the nearby Walloomsac Inn. Built from Sandy Hill Dolomite, a fossil-bearing blue-gray magnesian limestone quarried in present-day Hudson Falls, New York, the obelisk features an observation level reachable by elevator, from which visitors can see into Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. The interior displays Revolutionary War-era artifacts, including a kettle from General Burgoyne's Saratoga camp, and statues of American commanders John Stark and Seth Warner stand on the grounds.

The monument stands at 15 Monument Circle, Bennington, Vermont 05201, in Bennington County, southwestern Vermont, near the site of the Continental Army supply depot the battle was fought to defend.

Bennington, in southwestern Vermont, has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Specific monthly averages were not available from the sources fetched for this destination.

The monument operates on a seasonal schedule (May 22-October 31 per research), so a visit needs to fall within that window to access the observation level by elevator. Within that season, late spring through early fall offers the most comfortable weather for the outdoor grounds and statues.

The Battle of Bennington was fought on August 16, 1777, when American militia, led by General John Stark with reinforcements under Seth Warner, defeated British and allied forces attempting to seize a Continental Army supply depot in Bennington; the battle is considered a contributing factor to the American victory at Saratoga later that year. A century later, in 1877, plans began for a monument marking the battle's centenary. The cornerstone was laid in 1887 and construction was completed in November 1889 at a cost of $112,000, using Sandy Hill Dolomite quarried from present-day Hudson Falls, New York. The monument was dedicated in 1891, with President Benjamin Harrison in attendance and a reception at the nearby Walloomsac Inn. It is now maintained as a Vermont State Historic Site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors can ride the elevator to the 200-foot observatory level (the 417 interior stairs remain closed, per research) for views into Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. Inside, exhibits include a kettle from General Burgoyne's Saratoga camp and a diorama depicting the second engagement of the battle. The grounds feature statues of commanders John Stark and Seth Warner and other historical figures.

The 306-foot obelisk itself and its observation level are the main draw. On-site exhibits include Revolutionary War artifacts and a battle diorama, and the grounds display statues of John Stark, Seth Warner and other figures connected to the battle.

The monument is in downtown Bennington, Bennington County, in southwestern Vermont; sources fetched did not specify nearest airport distances. Visitors typically arrive by car given the site's small-town Vermont setting near the New York and Massachusetts borders.

Per research on the state historic sites program, the monument is open seasonally, May 22 through October 31, seven days a week, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Confirm current-year dates on historicsites.vermont.gov before visiting, since exact opening/closing dates can shift year to year.

As of research, admission was $8.00 for adults (17+), $2.00 for children ages 6-16, free for children under 6, and $5.00 per person for groups of 10 or more. When the elevator is offline and only the ground-level Monument Exhibit is open, admission drops to $2 per adult. Confirm current pricing on historicsites.vermont.gov before visiting.

Most visits take about 30 minutes to an hour, enough time to ride the elevator to the observation level, view the interior exhibits, and walk the grounds and statues.

Downtown Bennington offers a range of small-town lodging, including inns and hotel properties typical of a historic Vermont town center; sources fetched named the historic Walloomsac Inn as a nearby property connected to the monument's 1891 dedication, though its current operating status was not confirmed in the sources used.

Downtown Bennington, within a short drive or walk of the monument, has a range of casual and sit-down dining options typical of a Vermont town center; sources fetched did not name specific current restaurants.

Old Bennington's historic district, including the Old First Church and its cemetery (burial site of poet Robert Frost), sits near the monument. The Bennington Museum, in town, offers additional regional history exhibits. The site is also close to the Vermont borders with New York and Massachusetts, making it a convenient stop for visitors touring the tri-state area.

Sources fetched did not specify the nearest commercial airport; Bennington's location in southwestern Vermont near the New York and Massachusetts state lines means most visitors arrive by car.

The observation level is accessed by elevator rather than the closed interior stairs, so visitors with mobility concerns should confirm elevator operation status before visiting, since it has required maintenance in the past. For any emergency, dial 911.

A light jacket is worth carrying even in summer, since the elevated observation level can be breezier than ground level. Comfortable shoes are useful for exploring the surrounding Old Bennington historic district on foot.

Because the monument operates only seasonally (May 22-October 31 per research) and pricing changes if the elevator is offline, check historicsites.vermont.gov for current hours, dates and elevator status before visiting. Pairing the monument with a walk through the adjacent Old Bennington historic district, including the Old First Church cemetery, makes for a fuller visit.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The Bennington Battle Monument's visitor line, per Vermont State Historic Sites research, is (802) 447-0550.

Bennington Battle Monument - Vermont State Historic Sites - https://historicsites.vermont.gov/bennington-monument

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.