Miniature Tourism at Bunker Hill

I could have cropped the display case out, but how often are you photobombed by a Brown Bess? We need to embrace these moments.

For those patient readers who still bear with me, I would like to share a bit of modelling tourism. I recently had the opportunity to travel for work which found me in the wonderfully historic town of Boston. Much of what I visited was not only up my alley, but was in fact my whole alley.

One of the must-see spots for any American History fan is the memorial on top of Breed's Hill. I impulsively climbed the stairs inside the obelisk only to be harried by an encroaching high school class the whole 294 sweaty steps up. On my return to ground level, a park ranger directed me to a converted library across the street where there were some exhibits about the famous battle. They warned me that it was largely in miniature.

The exhibit was something to behold! The main attraction was about a 10ft x 20ft interactive diorama of the entire battle done with 15mm figures on a huge scenic topographical map. An audio program played while dynamic lighting showed the progression of the battle and simulated the flashes of battalion fire.

I really liked the work they did on the redoubt, and was proud that the didn't present a sanitized version of the battle, but had casualties covering the ground between the two sides.

 The lines of redcoats advancing across the terrain was just incredible. While the diorama depicted events while the colonists' ammunition was still holding out, you got the overwhelming sense of an inevitable British victory as the Regulars came wave after wave.

There were also some smaller dioramas done in other scales to show both a more human view inside the redoubt...

...as well as a broader view of Boston Harbor and Charlestown during the engagement.

Well, I'm feeling inspired to get back into my Revolution figures!