20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Memorial - Boston, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 20.974 W 071° 04.644
19T E 328895 N 4690679
A sculpture of a lion adorns the memorial honoring the members 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry who fought in the Civil War. The memorial is located in the McKim Building of the Boston Public Library 700 Boylston St. in Boston, MA.
Waymark Code: WM10EC5
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 04/23/2019
Views: 3
A larger than life sculpture of a lion in couchant position is one of a pair of lions sculpted by Louis St. Gaudens in 1890 and placed in the main branch of the Boston Public Library. The lion that was commissioned by and the honors the members of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry who fought in the Civil War adorns the left side of the grand staircase as you climb up the steps. The lion is sculptured from unpolished yellow Siena marble and rests on a 10' high rectangular marble base.
The back of the base contains the dedication:
IN HONOR
OF THE
TWENTIETH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE
OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN ITS RANKS
THIS MONUMENT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CITY OF BOSTON
The upper part of the front of the base is inscribed with the names of Civil War Battles:
BALL'S BLUFF - FAIR OAKS - GLENDALE
MALVERN HILL - ANTIETAM - FREDRICKSBURG
MARYE'S HEIGHTS - GETTYSBURG - BRISTOE STATION
THE WILDERNESS - SPOTTSYLVANIA- COLD HARBOR
PETERSBURG - APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE
The lower part of the front has a bronze wreath in which is inscribed:
TWENTIETH
MASSACHUSETTS
INFANTRY
1861-1865