Atop Prospect Hill Park in Somerville, Massachusetts stands a 34-foot tall, four-story granite tower constructed in 1903. Soldiers fighting in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars camped on Prospect Hill. It’s said that George Washington ordered the raising of a Grand Union Flag on the site on January 1, 1776.

By the turn of the century, the monument was in danger of collapse, and preservation efforts were soon underway. The city of Somerville restored the tower and the surrounding plaza after receiving $500,000 in funding via the Community Preservation Act. The tower’s renovation efforts concluded in December of 2015, while the surrounding plaza and park were officially reopened in 2020.

The view from the top of Prospect Hill Park provides amazing panoramic views of Boston, Cambridge, and the surrounding area.