Prospect Hill Monument

Seeing the US flag flying on top of buildings, structures, homes, and other public places within the country is nothing unusual. In Somerville, there is Prospect Hill Tower, located on the hill of the same name. On top of this historic stone tower is a very rare variant of the US flag, one which some people may not realize as American upon first glance.

Prospect Hill was where George Washington had his encampment and fortifications during the Siege of Boston during the first year of the American Revolution. On New Year’s Day, 1776, in order to raise morale for the beleaguered Continental Army soldiers, the very first American flag raising on American soil took place.

There is some debate as to which flag was actually flown on January 1st. Traditional accounts state the Continental Union Flag, the de facto flag of the United Colonies and the first flag of the United States featuring 13 stripes and the Union Jack was flown. Modern researchers have questioned this, claiming the standard Union Jack was flown or perhaps a combination of the two flags. Others have proposed that maybe a defaced version of the standard British Red Ensign such as the flag for the City of Taunton might’ve been used. The flag on top of Prospect Hill follows the traditional account of flying the Continental colors and it wasn’t until the Flag Act of 1777, the recognizable design featuring stars in a blue canton was officially adopted as the new flag for the United States. 

Prospect Hill Tower was built in 1903, and a reenactment ceremony is held every year to commemorate the flag raising of January 1st, 1776. If you have an interest in American Revolutionary War history, the tower and monument are definitely worth a visit.