The Battle of Bunker Hill Reenactment (in Gloucester, MA): June 21-22, 2025

On a hot Sunday in June, 250 years ago one of the most ferocious battles of the whole American Revolution took place on Breed's Hill in Charlestown, MA. At some point on that Sunday, June 17, 1775, the bustling seaport village part of Charlestown was burned to the ground too--by the British.

This past weekend, the main parts of the battle were reenacted at Stage Fort Park, in maritime Gloucester, MA—a location more suitable for dedicated re-enactors than present-day Charlestown. The Park is in historic Cape Ann, 50-mins north of Boston on the Atlantic Ocean near my home. I walked around from 8:45-1:30p.m. and it was great, you could just keep going around, getting your steps in and see how these incredible people planned this modern event.

What the battle looked like according to an eyewitness. Notice the burning of Charlestown and the North End to the right.

Gloucester, MA, originally home to the Pawtucket people, is one of the oldest English settlements in North America.

Well, let's just say, it was exceptional. These reenactors love what they do and many have been portraying Rev. War figures for decades. There were plenty of colonial women strolling around, Redcoats, rebels, generals, ministers, and sightseers from all over.

This baker ran out of provisions by 11:30A.M. Below are images of wares for sale.....a lot of the reenactors make their own clothes and buy cloth at these events.

The woman in yellow was from Rhode Island and her husband portrayed Asa Pollard, from Billerica, MA who was the first casualty of the battle. He got decapitated by a cannonball while making the famous redoubt with the rebels. The re-enactors did a fine job portraying this gruesome scene.

Constructing the redoubt on top of Stage Fort Park temporary "Breed's Hill" aka Bunker Hill or Bunker's Hill---thanks a lot patriots for screwing this language up for 250 years now! I believe that is Colonel William Prescott in the fancy coat.

Encampments.

Most did sleep the night. They really get into it.

A mess tent?

The rotunda where historians spoke about different aspects of the battle.

British war historian Don N. Hagist is an author and the managing editor of The Journal of the American Revolution an online website. I bought his latest book: The Revolution's Last Men: The Soldiers Behind the Photographs. Nice guy, he gave a mini-lecture on the British side of the war and also emceed the battle. He did a great job.

Using cannons against the Regulars coming up the hill.

I think they have their bedrolls wrapped around them. BTW, it was getting hot.

I've seen this Redcoat before!

Here he is again back in 2017 in Lexington. Pretty sure its the same guy.

British Regulars with a faint view of Gloucester Harbor.

A post-war rebuilt Charlestown. Source: Beauport, The Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, MA. Historic New England house museum (green bedroom overmantel)