Army Nurses Memorial - Boston, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 21.496 W 071° 03.794
19T E 330086 N 4691617
The Army Nurses Memorial is located in Nurses' Hall of the Massachusetts State House at 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA.
Waymark Code: WMNNT7
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 04/10/2015
Views: 4
A dramatic 3' wide by 8' long bronze sculpture honoring army nurses who served during the Civil War was created by Bela Lyon Pratt and cast by the Roman Bronze Works in 1911. The sculpture was was commissioned by the Massachusetts Department of the Daughter of Veterans and installed in the Massachusetts State House in 1914.
The sculpture depicts female nurse wearing a collarless long dress. She is kneeling behind a wounded soldier and slightly lifting him with her left hand by his left shoulder. In her right hand she is holding a cup of water which she is offering to the soldier. The soldier is dressed in Union Army uniform. His head is tilted back and his eyes are closed. His right leg is crossed over his left leg as he lies on the ground. He is bareheaded with his cap on the ground to the left of his head and his rifle is lying on the ground by his left side. US is inscribed on his belt buckle, identifying him as a Union soldier.
The sculpture rests on a marble base. The front of the base is inscribed:
TO THE ARMY NURSES
FROM 1861 TO 1865
ANGELS OF MERCY AND LIFE
AMID SCENES OF CONFLICT AND DEATH
A TRIBUTE OF HONOR AND GRATITUDE
FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT
DAUGHTERS OF VETERANS
1914
The Massachusetts State House is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. All visitors must enter through the General Hooker entrance.