Big Round Top is a boulder-strewn hill notable as the topographic high point[3]: 3  of the Gettysburg Battlefield and for 1863 American Civil War engagements for which Medals of Honor were awarded.

In addition to battle monuments, a historic reconstruction era structure on the uninhabited hill is the Big Round Top Observation Tower Foundation Ruin.

In addition to Little Round Top, adjacent battlefield locations are South Cavalry Field/Slyder Field (west), Devil's Den (northwest) and the Valley of Death/Slaughter Pen (north).

[3] Early human activity included Indigenous people clearing an area[9]: d  on the slope of Big Round Top and established a burial ground about one mile southwest.

During the Battle of Gettysburg, Big Round Top's slope, timber, and boulders precluded placement of artillery on the summit.

[10] After 10 pm, Chamberlain's 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment occupied a Big Round Top summit position (the monument is on the north slope).

[14] The Elon J. Farnsworth monument was erected before 1896 at the base of Big Round Top,[15] and statues of William Wells (1931) and John Michael Tobin are also on the hill.