Dorchester Heights Monument in Boston National Historical Park to be Restored through GAOA Funding

Monument Updates 

• The contractor fastened limestone slabs to structure below. They installed and detailed Level 4 structural steel on top of limestone slabs. Then, the contractor installed brick and CMU block behind structural steel at the top of the Monument and installed next course of marble veneer.  
• Workers installed flashing and waterproofing at various areas of the Monument. 
• The contractor reinstalled marble masonry corners on course #64 and began installing the infill between. They reinstalled marble cornice on course #63 on all elevations and set mable blocks on courses #64 and #65. The contractor worked on installing 4th level cornice. They installed all of the masonry infill between marble course #65 and structural steel. Also, the contractor installed lead coated copper flashing at upper cornice and soldered joints. 
• Workers continued grouting marble joint on the lower areas of the Monument. In the staging area, workers continued repairing and modifying various marble masonry units. The contractor began working from the scaffolding making repairs on marble masonry units that remained in place and replacing those that were not reparable. The contractor saw cut and repointed mortar joints and restored/replaced bricks on the inside of Level 3.   
• The contractor replaced the marble balusters on each of the elevations of Level 3.  
• Workers jack hammered and modified the beam pockets for new structural steel beams to support level 1 floor slab. They began repointing foundation blocks in the basement level of the Monument. Workers drove grounding rods in the basement of the Monument and connected them with the necessary conductor. Lastly, the contractor installed grounding rod and sleeves in first floor slab. 
• The contractor installed first floor steel and deck. They set the base plates for the first floor structural steel beam and installed first floor structural steel framing. Also, the contractor welded the new first floor metal deck and placed and finished 5 cubic yard of concrete on first floor deck. 

Hardscape Updates 

• The contractor continued rough grading the embankment above the West entrance gate. The contractor began removing and loading the concrete roadway at the top of the West embankment. They also installed concrete forms for the risers on the north side of West stair.  
• Workers continued caulking control joints on the face of the North Road retaining wall. They placed and finished 80 cubic yards of concrete along the North Road and northeast stair. Workers began framing the carpentry infill for forming the next sections of concrete walls along the North Road. The contractor installed ductile iron pipe for storm water system at the North gate. They also repositioned concrete forms and carpentry infill on the remaining sections of northeast stair. Workers then began erecting forms on the remaining low outside walls of the North Road. The contractor installed geofoam and dense grade at the North gate. The contractor backfilled and compacted the North Road at the entrance gate and backfilled retaining wall. Workers placed and finished 55 cubic yards of concrete in the low wall of the North Road and northeast stair. They also installed geofoam and began backfilling/compacting with dense grade on the North Road. The contractor moved concrete form system panels for the next wall pour.
• Workers completed the installation of the light pole bases along the outside of the Upper North Road.
• The contractor began installing plywood protection on the concrete walls on both sides of the North access road. They placed and finished 25 cubic yards of concrete in the Northeast stair retaining wall. 
• The contractor completed backfilling the connecting Southwest wall and began grading for paving.
• Workers staged forms for demobilization and for work at the Southeast Stair. The contractor began constructing the concrete form systems and the carpentry falsework for the angled surface of the Southeast stair.  
• Workers installed conduit between light pole bases throughout the site.  

August Photo Gallery

Monument Updates 

• The contractor continued repairing and modifying various masonry units in the staging area.
• On Level 4, the contractor repointed the exterior marble masonry units. They also grouted lower courses of the marble veneer and prepped Level 4 limestone slabs for hoisting. Also, the contractor fastened limestone slabs at Level 4 structural deck. 
• Workers continued grouting marble joints on lower areas of the monument.
• Workers installed the keystone in each of the outer four arches. They completed installation and fastening of all arches on all elevations and installed marble on both sides of each arch. 
• At Level 2, the contractor chipped and removed the concrete slab and casted finished concrete on the top of the Level 2 slab. Also on the Level 2 slab, the contractor installed the epoxy coated welded wire mesh and the topping. The contractor mixed concrete for the second floor slab topping and mortar for the laying of interior brick.  
• Workers continued saw cutting joints, replacing brick and restoring the brick veneer inside the Monument at Level 3. They also worked inside the monument restoring the interior brick that was blocked by the shoring. Additionally, workers layed inside surface finish brick and the brick in each corner of the landing of Level 3.
• The contractor worked inside the Monument at Level 1 restoring the brick under the stair and around the circuit panel. Beginning at Level 2, the contractor began the washdown of the restored interior brick. They also finished interior brick at Level 3 and pointed marble veneer joints. On Level 4, the contractor also washed the interior brick veneer. 
• The contractor removed and painted the spiral stair assembly. They also installed the spiral stair along with its metal enclosure and cap in the Monument. 

Hardscape Updates 

• The contractor loaded triaxles with spoils from the cut between the West stair and North Road pile cap, removing spoils and concrete from the site. Workers continued installing trench drain in the West stairway. The contractor backfilled and compacted subgrade at the street level of the West gate.
• The contractor installed the footings for the connection of the North Road pile cap and West stair. They installed rebar for the West stair beginning at the north and worked their way southward. Then, the contractor rough graded southwest area of the site and installed trench drains on the south leg of the West stair. 
• Work continued along the North Road. The contractor continued installing the carpentry inserts and cant strips in the concrete wall forms along the North Road. They hoisted concrete panels onto and off the North Road. The contractor reconfigured concrete form panel system for retaining and outside walls of North Road, as well as reconfigured and installed structural concrete form system on the North Road pile caps. The contractor installed finish detail in the concrete forms to prepare for concrete placement. Workers installed carpentry for the angled face of the retaining walls, then they placed and finished 50 cubic yards of concrete on the retaining wall sides of the roadway. The contractor caulked control joints on backfill/infill side of the North retaining wall. They also broke down and began reconfiguring concrete forms and carpentry for the next section of outside low walls of the North Road. The contractor installed and connected area drain structure at the North gate. The contractor cut openings in concrete drain structures and installed drain lines behind retaining wall along North Road.  
• Workers began the removal of concrete walks on the South side of the Monument. They then installed dense grade for concrete walks on both the North and South of the Monument. Next, they installed grade and subgrade under upper South roadway. 
• The contractor installed light pole bases south of the upper roadway. They installed light pole bases and conduit on the south side of the West stair and along outside of upper South Road.  

July Photo Gallery

Monument Updates 

• The contractor installed and soldered flashing at Level 3 cornice. This process included applying liquid moisture barrier and sealing flashing reveals. 
• Workers continued cutting, repairing, and installing marble masonry units on the Monument. They laid up concrete blocks that were cut, prepared, and staged at the top of the Monument. They also mechanically fastened the repaired and modified masonry units to the CMU superstructure.  
• The contractor fabricated and installed carpentry templates for the masonry arches on all four sides of the Monument. They completed installing and mechanically fastened repaired and modified marble masonry arches. The contractor installed the masonry bond beam by modifying the CMUs and installing horizontal rebar. Workers grouted the bond beam and mechanically fastened the top layer of marble. They also mechanically fastened marble masonry units on each side of the four arches. 
• The contractor cut the joints, replaced the brick, and restored interior brick veneer inside Monument at Level 3. 
• Workers erected various staging system components (scaffolding).  

Hardscape Updates 

• The contractor sealed control joints on the top and rear of the West stair retaining wall. They also began installing geo-foam on the north end of the West stair.
• Workers installed carpentry fillers for the angled face of low concrete wall in the West South stair area, as well as placed and finished 30 cubic yards of concrete in this area. Then, workers disassembled the concrete form system and the wood framed infill from the angled wall surfaces.
• The contractor rough graded areas outside the West gate and installed dense grade in the West stairway as well as trench drains in the northern area of the West stair. In the southern stairway of the west gate, the contractor installed geofoam. They also completed installation of light pole bases in the West stair area.  
• Workers constructed forms for North Road pile cap in preparation for concrete. They constructed the keyways and concrete stops for the for the North Road pile cap and continued with the installation of reinforcing steel in the North Road pile caps.
• The contractor began installing the vertical rods for the retaining wall in the northeast staircase as well as the vertical rods for the North Road retaining and perimeter walls. The contractor assembled concrete form systems for the North Road retaining walls.
• The contractor assembled the carpentry inserts for the angled face of the retaining wall at and around North gate. They also placed 53 cubic yards of concrete in various retaining wall sections around the North gate. Lastly, the contractor disassembled concrete form sections and carpentry inserts for the angled face of the retaining walls around the North gate. 

June Photo Gallery

Monument Updates 

• The contractor grouted masonry cavities along the top course of masonry at structural steel base frame. At the top of the monument, workers also placed CMU block and reinforcing steel.
• In the staging area, the contractor continuously cut, modified, and repaired masonry stones. They also received, set, grouted, and fastened various masonry units (including the cantilevered cornice) hoisted from the staging area on top of the Monument. The contractor consolidated palletized masonry units in the staging area. Workers performed masonry repairs to exterior marble masonry units below level 3.
• Work continued on Level 3. The contractor set concrete blocks for the Level 3 super structure and continued installing Level 3 marble. The contractor installed and soldered flashing at Level 3 cornice. They disassembled and removed carpentry shoring supporting concrete in place level 3 deck as well as removed all the wood framing shoring installed to support level 3 deck.
• The contractor placed and finished concrete on the Level 4 deck of the Monument.
• The contractor worked inside the monument at the Level 2 floor slab, saw cutting and pointing brick joints.

Hardscape Updates 

• The contractor continued setting up forms for the outside wall north of the West gate (main entrance). They continued breaking down all the carpentry infill used on the West retaining wall. The contractor mixed and began applying sealant to the control joints on the back surface of the West retaining wall. Workers reconfigured concrete form systems north of the West gate while also erecting forms for the low walls south of the West gate. The contractor placed and finished 33 cubic yards of concrete in outside/lower wall south of West gate. They began framing falsework for outside lower walls remaining in West wall south of West gate. The contractor installed geotextile and backfilled outside lower wall north of West gate. The contractor broke down forms from the outer low walls south of the West gate and received and installed 2.5" stone behind West retaining wall.
• The contractor continued installing rebar in the area east of South gate. They began constructing form for pile cap east of the South gate and loaded excavated spoils from laydown area where trees were removed along south road. The contractor stripped, broke-down, and palletized the concrete forms from the pile caps east of the South gate. Additionally, the contractor began reinstalling concrete forms in the South.
• The contractor continued cutting and benching the North Road and loading spoils. At the North access road, the contractor completed and grouted soil nails and began layout of mini piles. The contractor removed concrete and added stone bed to upper North roadway. The contractor cut the casing and chipped away grout from the piles installed in the North roadbed. Workers continued constructing pile caps in the North access road and completed grading and benching the North Road subgrade with stone. Additionally, the contractor executed pile tension and compression tests on the piles in the North Road. The contractor began installation of reinforcing steel in the North Road pile caps. Lastly, the contractor received and staged fourth and last load of rebar for North Road.

May Photo Gallery

Monument Updates

• This month, the contractor made masonry repairs to the various stones from the staging area. Masons also cut exterior marble units. The contractor saw cut mortar joints and replaced brick and tuck pointed joints. Additionally, the contractor restored brick inside monument.
• To prepare for Monument reconstruction, the contractor staged structural steel. The contractor installed anchors at the top course of masonry units for structural steel installation. The contractor subsequently welded grillage and Level 4 structural steel. During ultrasound testing, the contractor made any needed repairs.
• The contractor grouted masonry cavities along the top course of masonry at structural steel base frame.

Hardscape Updates

• On the grounds of the Dorchester Heights Monument, the contractor placed 50 cubic yards of concrete in inner retaining walls at the west south staircase (south of the main/west entrance gate). The contractor installed rebar to inner retaining wall at the west north staircase (north of the main/west entrance gate).
• The contractor set concrete from panels and wood falsework for wall north of west gate. The contractor relocated and reinstalled concrete forms and carpentry falsework for retaining wall sections north of west gate.
• North of the north gate, the contractor tied rebar for pile caps. Contractor also placed concrete in pile caps in the area east of north gate (located next to the northeast boudary of the grounds).
• The contractor installed rebar east of the south gate (located next to the southeast boundary of the grounds). Additionally, the contractor constructed form for pile caps east of the south gate. The contractor loaded excavated spoils from laydown areas where trees were removed along south road.
• The contractor hammered and removed concrete along the outside and inside edges of north road. The contractor excavated the north road to rough grade for installation of the Support of Excavation (SOE) wall. In addition to this work, the contractor removed spoil from north road. The contractor completed and grouted soil nails and began layout of mini piles in the north access road.

April Photo Gallery

Evacuation Day:

This March, the National Parks of Boston and South Boston Citizens' Association hosted the annual Evacuation Day Commemoration on Friday, March 15. Speakers included South Boston Citizens’ Association President Tom McGrath, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, Mayor Michelle Wu, Representative David Biele, City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, Councilor Ed Flynn, Councilor Erin Murphy, and Robert Allison, Chair of Revolution 250.

See photos from the event.

Hardscape:

Crews have completed pouring the first footings, which has allowed them to start forming and pouring retaining walls. The walls are both at an arc to move with the elliptical shape of the park grounds, but also chamfered inwards to work with the slope of the hill. Two diseased Sugar Maple trees on the South side of the grounds will be removed mid April to enable completion of the hardscape project. The trees will be replaced during the landscape treatment phase of the project in 2025.

Monument:

Workers are analyzing the cracked stones of the Monument to identify what repair work needs to be done and are repairing stones that have been removed from the top of the Monument. This process includes cutting marble to serve as replacement pieces. Most of the marble will be able to be reused in this way, limiting the amount of new marble required for restoring the Monument. Inside, workers are repointing the masonry of the main part of the tower. Deteriorated bricks are being completely replaced, while most of the work involves repointing: Removal of failed mortar and replacement set in to the joins of the bricks.

March Photo Gallery

Hardscape:

Installation of the micropiles completed. Crews next focused on setting up all the reinforcing rebar members that interfaces with the micripilings to ensure solid, stable, and permanent footing for the stairwells. Forms were then built around each of these foundational elements so concrete could be poured and allowed to fully cure.

Monument:

Crews have completed the removal of stones of the Monument down to and including the observatory level. Masons are now analyzing each of the stones and determining next steps for repairing and replacing the stones. Stones that need repair may get matching replacement pieces from donor stones otherwise too deteriorated for reinstallation. Inside the main chamber of the monument, masons are evaluating and repointing the masonry that needs to be repaired and/or replaced in situ.

February Photo Gallery

Hardscape:

The process of micropiling the stairway foundation and the retaining wall started and it continues around the entirety of the park. Micropiles for retaining walls also included the placing of steel mesh followed by a sprayed concrete treatment to form the first layer of the retaining walls.

Monument:

Crews have carefully begun dismantling the top of the Monument from top to bottom. This began with the steeple and then progressed to the belfry feature. Every piece of marble is numbered and identified so it can go back in its original location. The masonry, concrete, and metal elements are largely too far deteriorated to be rehabilitated and are being demolished so new masonry can take its place.
January Photo Gallery
December Photo Gallery

Two separate work efforts are progressing simultaneously: Hardscape rehabilitation work and Monument restoration work.

Hardscape:

In October, crews first removed light fixtures and trees along the main walkway that will be replaced at the conclusion of work. With excavators and jackhammers, the crews are continuing the process of demolishing the old concrete stairwells and retaining walls. The demolition work is ongoing and rotating around the park. Excavation work for piling installation will follow.

Monument:

After utility and other preparations completed, scaffolding has gone up around the monument. Dismantling of the weathervane and spire will follow, kicking off the first phase of direct work rehabilitating the monument.

October Photo Gallery

Work mobilized in earnest beginning September 2023. This included closure of the grounds to the public and setting up work/laydown areas, site trailers, and all other necessary materials. Protection measures are in place for markers, monuments, and established wooded areas on the north and south sides of the monument.

Read the press release.

National Park Service Regional Director Gay Vietzke announced the funding at the 2022 Evacuation Day commemoration at Dorchester Heights on Thursday, March 17. The program featured remarks by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and National Parks of Boston Superintendent Michael Creasey. The event also included ceremonial musket fire by the Lexington Minutemen and music provided by the Boston University Band. Watch Director Vietzke's announcement.