The Binney Memorial - Watertown, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 22.387 W 071° 08.840
19T E 323201 N 4693437
The Binney Memorial is located off Fir Avenue between Heath and Columbine Paths in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Waymark Code: WMW0EW
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 06/21/2017
Views: 3
A 7' by 4.5' by 3' block of white marble contains two relief sculptures, each in a niche on opposite sides of the memorial. On one side is depicted a levitating male figure. He is wrapped a flowing robes of drapery. His hands are outstretched from the robes at waist level. On the other side is depicted a draped female with her head covered. She is standing, looking down, while clutching an urn to her chest with her right hand. Her left hand is touching her forehead. A drape with graceful folds covers the top and sides of the monument so that only the niches and a small part of the top are exposed. On the top above the male figure is a wreath, slightly covered by the drape.
The sculpture rests on a set of three marble steps. It was created by Thomas Crawford between 1847 - 1850. It was his sole work of funerary art. It has been designated an "American Treasure" by the National Trust for Historic preservation and the White House Millennium Committee.
On the second step below the male figure is the inscription:
AMOS.BINNEY.M.D
DIED AT ROME
FEBRUARY 18.1847.AGED 41
On the second step below the female figure is the inscription:
MARY ANN WIFE OF AMOS BINNEY M.D.
DIED JUNE 6, 1884. AGE 79 YEARS.
AMOS BINNEY
DIED MAR. 11, 1880. AGED 50 YEARS
On the side with the drape not touching the steps, the second step is inscribed:
JOHN BINNEY
DIED AUG. 30, 1851. AGED (....inscription illegible) YEARS
ANNA BINNEY (BRINTON inscription mostly illegible)
DIED JULY 17. 1870. AGED (...inscription illegible)
On the side with the drape reaching the second step, the second step is inscribed:
HENRY PRENTICE BINNEY
DIED APR. 17. 1878. AGED 40 YEARS.
WILLIAM GREENE BINNEY
DIED AUG. 3. 1909. AGED 75 YEARS.