Boston Marks 250 Years Since British Evacuation

Reenactors in colonial attire filled the streets to commemorate the Continental Army's first major victory of the Revolutionary War.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 6:55am

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Hundreds of reenactors in 18th-century military uniforms marched through the streets of South Boston on Tuesday, marking the 250th anniversary of the British evacuation of the city during the Revolutionary War. The ceremony included a Mass at St. Augustine Chapel, a procession to Dorchester Heights, and the reopening of a monument commemorating the historic event.

Why it matters

The British evacuation of Boston in 1776 was a pivotal moment in the American Revolution, marking the Continental Army's first major victory and securing the city for the American cause. The annual Evacuation Day celebration has become an important part of Boston's cultural heritage, connecting the city to its revolutionary past.

The details

On March 17, 1776, British troops withdrew from Boston after Gen. George Washington fortified Dorchester Heights with artillery, prompting the evacuation. The ceremony on Tuesday included reenactors firing replica muskets, a wreath-laying at Dorchester Heights, and the reopening of a $37 million renovation project on the Dorchester Heights monument.

  • The British evacuation of Boston occurred on March 17, 1776.
  • The 250th anniversary of the evacuation was commemorated on March 18, 2026.

The players

George Washington

The commanding general of the Continental Army who fortified Dorchester Heights, leading to the British evacuation of Boston.

Henry Knox

A colonel in the Continental Army who hauled artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Dorchester Heights, enabling the fortification that prompted the British evacuation.

Ronald White

A member of the New Hampshire Sons of the American Revolution who attended the commemoration in colonial attire and was moved by the event's significance.

Greta Gaffin

A Boston University theology student studying American religious history who found the Catholic Mass held as part of the commemoration to be historically ironic.

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What they’re saying

“To think that 250 years ago Henry Knox made such a courageous stand, I get choked up thinking about it. They really were going up against a force—it was kind of a suicidal idea to stand up against Great Britain. And we did it. Here we are remembering it.”

— Ronald White, member of the New Hampshire Sons of the American Revolution (AP)

“I'm here because I think having a Catholic Mass in honor of Evacuation Day is conceptually absurd. They would have hated this—I had to see it.”

— Greta Gaffin, Boston University theology student (AP)

What’s next

The Dorchester Heights monument, which underwent a $37 million renovation project, will remain open to the public following the anniversary commemoration.

The takeaway

The annual Evacuation Day celebration in Boston serves as a powerful reminder of the city's pivotal role in the American Revolution and the sacrifices made by the nation's founders. Despite the historical irony of holding a Catholic Mass as part of the commemoration, the event continues to draw crowds and connect the modern city to its revolutionary past.