Robert Gould Shaw Memorial Monument
Civil War monument honoring African American regiment
A Civil War memorial in Boston honoring Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts, the bronze relief by Augustus Saint-Gaudens attracts history-minded visitors and students of public sculpture.
Robert Gould Shaw Memorial at a Glance#
Address: Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, Boston Common (Beacon St & Charles St), Boston, MA
Website: https://www.boston.gov/parks/boston-common
Hours: Mon-Sun 24 hours (outdoor public monument)
Admission: Free (outdoor public monument)
About Robert Gould Shaw Memorial#
The Robert Gould Shaw Memorial is a bronze relief and sculptural memorial by Augustus Saint-Gaudens on the edge of Boston Common, commemorating Colonel Shaw and the African American soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. The finished memorial was dedicated in 1897.
Augustus Saint-Gaudens executed the memorial in the 1890s as a commemoration of the regiment’s assault on Fort Wagner in 1863 and of Colonel Shaw, who fell in that action. It has remained in place on the Common since its dedication.
The memorial is sited on Boston Common at the edge of the State House lawn, along Beacon Street in central Boston.
- Dedication year: Dedicated in 1897 to honor Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
How to Get to Robert Gould Shaw Memorial#
By MBTA: Park Street station (Red/Green lines) is adjacent to Boston Common; the memorial is a short walk from the station. On foot the Common is central to downtown Boston and easily reached from the Freedom Trail.
Tips for Visiting Robert Gould Shaw Memorial#
- Examine the bronze relief closely-Saint-Gaudens packed figures into low relief the way a writer packs sentences
- Visit on a quiet weekday morning to see the sculpture without school groups
- Pair a visit with a walk on the adjacent Boston Common and the nearby State House steps for historical context
Best Time to Visit Robert Gould Shaw Memorial#
Any time of year-monuments are outdoors and accessible year-round; spring and autumn offer the best light and fewer crowds.
Weather & Climate near Robert Gould Shaw Memorial#
Robert Gould Shaw Memorial's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -7°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1130 mm/year), wettest in November, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -7° - 2° | -8° | 101 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -6° - 4° | -7° | 88 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -2° - 8° | -1° | 104 mm | - | - | 5.1 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 3° - 14° | 6° | 96 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 9° - 21° | 15° | 85 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 14° - 26° | 20° | 87 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 17° - 29° | 23° | 82 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 17° - 28° | 22° | 92 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 12° - 24° | 18° | 91 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 6° - 18° | 12° | 98 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 1° - 11° | 3° | 105 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -4° - 5° | -4° | 101 mm | - | - | 4.8 m/s | - | - |
