Robert Gould Shaw Memorial - Boston, MA
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 42° 21.463 W 071° 03.816
19T E 330054 N 4691556
The Robert Gould Shaw Memorial is a notable group statue in high relief by Augustus Saint-Gaudens that stands facing the Massachusetts State Capitol.
Waymark Code: WMBYHR
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 07/04/2011
Views: 26
In Boston, across from the State House, is a striking memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry.
The American Guide for Massachusetts has the following about the memorial:
Foot Tour 1: Back Bay to Beacon Hill
The Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, facing the State House from the edge of the Common, is a notable group statue in high relief, by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Colonel Shaw, his horse, and the Negro troopers are all sculptured with remarkable sensitivity to the medium and the subject. Charles F., McKim designed the frame, a wide pink granite exedra with crouching eagles, Greek urns, and low benches, shadowed by two enormous English elms.
--- American Guide Series: Massachusetts, a Guide to Its Places and People, p. 153.
The memorial is still in place, today. The memorial bronze relief is at street level, while the stone monument rises from the Boston Common walkway at the base of the stairs beside the memorial. The elms - they exist, somehow growing with the monument, sidewalk and street surrounding them. But they have been pruned so much, they have the appearance of 'Frankentrees.' It's a tight spot to view the bronze relief. Unfortunately, the sidewalk is not wide, here, and it's a favorite place for tour buses to dump people. But, usually there is time between these events to get close. The back has words as well.
Book: Massachusetts
Page Number(s) of Excerpt: 153
Year Originally Published: 1937
|
Visit Instructions:
To log a Visit, please supply an original image of the Waymark.