Sunday, December 28, 2008
Bennington info site
The first time I drove through Bennington on my way to Woodford in 2005, I was struck by the sight of a huge monument on a hilltop overlooking the town. I found out later that it was the Bennington Battle Monument, and since then I've planned to stop and see it up close when the opportunity arose. Since Ann and I didn't have any plans for the afternoon (beyond roaming around VT and MA) today seemed like a good opportunity to do just that.
I think the monument page on the Bennington info site does a darn fine job describing its history, so rather than paraphrasing I'm just going to include it here:
Built in the late 1880's, this monument is a dedication to the famous Battle of Bennington that took place during the Revolutionary war in 1777. It was at this location the American colonists maintained a store of weapons and food, which British General Burgoyne knew was critical to capture in order to restock his own troops.
Although the battle came together in nearby Walloomsac, this site seemed appropriate considering the military and strategic importance of the arsenal Burgoyne was trying to capture. For almost a century the battle was celebrated annually in the Old State Arms House Hotel which was also located on this sight.
In 1877 a local historical society was formed and they started planning the monument. The committee considered many designs for the monument. One design which called for a slender stone column only 100 ft tall was showcased during the centennial celebration in 1877, which was attended by President Rutherford B. Hayes. The committee finally accepted J. Phillip Rinn's "Big Tower" design with some changes. J. Phillip Rinn modified the original design to include curved edges, and in November 1889 the final stone was set on. The dedication ceremonies were delayed until 1891, when Bennington welcomed President Benjamin Harrison who attended the ceremonies and held a reception at the Walloomsac Inn.
Visiting information:
The Bennington Battle Monument, dedicated to the famous Battle of Bennington that took place during the Revolutionary war in 1777, is a 306' stone obelisk opened to the public in 1891. It is located north of VT Rte 9, about 4 miles east of the New York border. A guided elevator takes visitors to the observation floor for spectacular views of Historic Bennington and three states. There is a diorama and several interpretive exhibits on the ground floor along with General Burgoyne's cook kettle. Statues of John Stark, Seth Warner and other notable monuments adorn the grounds. Tickets can be purchased for a small fee in the gift shop that specializes in historical items relating to the Battle of Bennington and Vermont. Open 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week, mid-April to October 31st.
(courtesy of www.bennington.com)
Unfortunately, only the grounds are open in the winter, so we wandered around a bit looking at the statues and informational plaques... and of course the monument, which is huge! A trip back is definitely in order in warmer weather, so that I can go up to the observation floor and take in the view.
After we had checked out everything there was to see, we broke out the sandwiches we brought along for lunch and headed down the road to Massachusetts.
JMH
