
About Us
The Bunker Hill Reenactment
The 250th Anniversary Reenactment of The Battle of Bunker Hills aims to accurately portray the events and faithfully represent the people involved in the conflict of June 17, 1775. Our mission is to celebrate and commemorate the actions and sacrifices of the men and women of all sides of the Battle of Bunker Hill through careful research, public demonstrations, civic engagement, and educational outreach. Through these means, we endeavor to increase understanding of the Battle of Bunker Hill, and to bring to life the stories and voices of those long gone or purposefully excluded: when you see us, think of them.
Why Gloucester and not Charlestown?
Any reenactor, living historian, or public historian would prefer to stage an event on the very ground where history unfolded. Place matters—it shapes the narrative of the event. That’s why we support the preservation of historic landscapes, sites, homes, and battlefields.
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However, much has changed in the 250 years since the Battle of Bunker Hill. Charlestown is no longer a rural village surrounded by pastures, accessible only by ferry or a day’s journey on foot. Today, it is a thriving neighborhood, and its only visible link to 1775 is the four-acre plot atop Breed’s Hill, home to the 221-foot monument commemorating the battle.
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That four-acre site is managed by the National Park Service (NPS), which strictly regulates historical commemorations. According to the NPS 2006 Management Policies (7.5.9), battle reenactments involving exchanges of fire, casualties, hand-to-hand combat, or any form of simulated warfare are prohibited in all parks. Simply put, we cannot use the site for a reenactment.
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Beyond the monument grounds, Charlestown offers little suitable open space. The largest areas—Charlestown Community College’s flat sports field and the artificial turf football field at Charlestown High School—are not ideal for staging a battle fought on hilly terrain.
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To properly commemorate the 250th anniversary, the event requires:
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A large, open site with a hill in Massachusetts
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Space for hundreds of reenactors
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Room for two camps: one for Provincial forces and one for the Crown
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Proximity to or access to the sea, as naval forces played a key role in the battle
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A community that welcomes a national-level reenactment
Finding a site that meets these criteria is more difficult than one might expect, but Stage Fort Park in Gloucester checks nearly all the boxes. And in Gloucester, we've found an amazing partner and supportive community dedicated to helping us bring this event to life.
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By hosting the event there, we can honor the history of the Battle of Bunker Hill in a way that is both immersive and meaningful, even if it is not on the original battlefield.
In the Press
Gloucester, not Charlestown, standing in for ‘Bunker Hill’ 250th reenactment - Brian MacQuarrie, the Boston Globe
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The 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill - Scott Simon, NPR