Captain Nathan Hale Monument

The monument is a 45-foot granite obelisk with a stepped square base and paneled sections, featuring inscriptions on each side near Nathan Hale Cemetery. The structure sits within a rectangular grassy space supported by a granite retaining wall that was built in 1894.

The monument was built in 1846 and stands as one of the earliest war memorials in the United States, designed by architect Henry Austin and constructed by builder Solomon Willard. It was erected to honor one of the early heroes of the Revolutionary War.

The monument displays Nathan Hale's final statement made before his execution, reflecting the commitment shown by American soldiers during the Revolutionary War.

The location at 120 Lake Street in Coventry is easily accessible and sits in a quiet, open setting next to a historic cemetery. The best time to visit is on clear days when the inscriptions on the obelisk are readable in the sunlight.

The granite used for the monument came from the same Quincy, Massachusetts quarries that supplied stone for the Bunker Hill Monument. This connection shows how important Quincy's granite industry was to building early American war memorials.

GPS coordinates: 41.76783,-72.30647

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:07