Only stone structure on Commonwealth Ave Mall. Sculpted by William Rimmer in 1865. Hamilton was 1st Secretary of Treasury & killed in gentleman's dual with then VP Aaron Burr. More info in blog.<LINK> Read more.
Fountain of black panther by artist Lillian Swann Saarinen was originally titled Night before renamed for the panther in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. Dedicated in 1986. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
Tablet dedicated in 1913. Text (from 4 of 1st settlers of Boston) declared that in 1634 John Winthrop & Puritans purchased this land from William Blackstone for "Common" use. More info via blog.<LINK> Read more.
Memorial created 1888 by Robert Adolf Krauss. Also referred to as Crispus Attucks Memorial who was 1st killed during Boston Massacre. Krauss died in insane asylum in 1901. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
1934 addition to Public Garden. Has had to be replaced twice due to deterioration of one of another being stolen. Artist is former student of Museum of Fine Arts, Bashka Paeff. More info in blog<LINK> Read more.
Donated by wealthy dry goods merchant Gardner Brewer who commissioned this replica from the Exposition Universelle of 1855 in Paris. Contains sculpture of God of Sea, Poseiden. More info in blog<LINK> Read more.
Was general for Union Army in Civil War and served in MA Supreme Court & as US Attorney General under President Rutherford B. Hayes. Statue completed 1896 by Olin Levi Warner. More info in blog.<LINK> Read more.
Monument by Esplanade architect Arthur Shurcliff. Eliot worked on Arnold Arboretum and is a founder of metropolitan park system. Engraved on monument are lists of local parks. More info in blog.<LINK> Read more.
Along Beacon St near this intersection are last remnants of original fencing around the Common set in 1836. Remaining fences were torn down WWII and melted for their metal. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
This is the "2nd" place statue in the commission to honor Sumner. The actual winner, a female, was denied when judges deemed it unworthy of a woman to sculpt a man's legs. More info in our blog.<LINK> Read more.
Outside front gate (along School St) check out the ornate hop-scotch board called City Carpet by Lilli Ann Killen Rosenberg. Commemorates 1st public school formerly on site. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
Features city's 1st portrait statue, Benjamin Franklin. In 1781 while serving as US Ambassador to France he drafted a letter to European academia encouraging a study of farts. More info in blog.<LINK> Read more.
Statue in yard of Josiah Quincy. 2nd mayor of Boston & 16th president of Harvard. Aided construction of Quincy Market. Sculpted by Thomas Ball in 1879. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
Outside is a statue representing the Democratic party. Symbol originated in 1828 when opponents called Andrew Jackson a jack***. Mr. Jackson made the jest his party's symbol. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
One of 4 works by artist John Paramino within Boston Common. Honors Barry who is recognized as the "Father of the American Navy" after being appointed by George Washington. More info via blog.<LINK> Read more.
French-style boulevard established in 1856. Mall stretches 3/4 of a mile and 7 street blocks (each named alphabetically from A-H as you move away from Public Garden). More info in blog.<LINK> Read more.
Bronze plaque dedicated on 250th anniversary of U.S. independence (1925). Recreation of John Trumbell's famous painting in US Capitol. Text is "nearly" identical to actual DOI. More info in blog<LINK> Read more.
2 large urns outside Hatch Shell pedestrian bridge are dedicated to Curtis. He was most noted for his somewhat controversial resolution to the Boston Police Strike in 1919. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
Depicts William Blackstone (city founder) welcoming Puritan John Winthrop & Puritans. As no one knew what Blackstone looked like the artist used then Boston mayor James Curley. More info in blog<LINK> Read more.
2004 addition to Boston Public Garden. Memorial to victims of 9/11. Designed by Victor Walker & lists 200 individuals who perished whom lived in MA or were originally from MA. More info via blog<LINK> Read more.
Oversized statue by James Earle Fraser of former general known for quotes like, "The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his." More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
Sculpted by Martin Moore (1875). Glover was brigadier general for Continental army in American Revolution. Best known for helping Washington ferry across Delaware River (1776). More info in blog<LINK> Read more.
Also known as "The Spirit of Giving" and "The Angel of the Waters." Sculpted by Daniel Chester French who is best known for having done the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. More info via our blog. Read more.
After a failed push to rename Boston Common after him, an equestrian statue was erected in his honor. His sword is known to disappear so often a series of spares are maintained. More info via our blog Read more.
40' sculpture to celebrate 1st use of ether as anesthetic in nearby MA General Hospital. Mark Twain called it "made of hardy material but the lies it tells will outlast it." More info via our blog Read more.
18' bronze sculpture by Gyuri Hollosy in remembrance of anti-Communist riots in Hungary on 10/23/1956. Notice heads at bottom & hole in flag. Artist removed Communist symbol. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
Part of another walking trail in Boston (Irish Heritage Trail). Depicts family pre- and post arrival to America during Great Potato Famine. Read the 8 plaques around the plaza or read more in our blog Read more.
Curley was a popular politician from 1920-1950. He served as 4x Mayor, Congressman and 53rd Governor of MA. Best known for winning seat on Board of Alderman while in prison. More info in blog.<LINK> Read more.
Artist unknown. Dates back to 16th century & came from a palace in Japan. Formerly located on island (then connected before city cut it off due to too many amorous incidents). More info in blog.<LINK> Read more.
Kids love to climb atop Mrs. Mallard and her 8 ducklings. Added in 1987 atop cobblestones rescued from city. Make Way For Ducklings is the official children's book of MA. More info avail via our blog. Read more.
Tobin was youngest individual ever elected to public office in the state of MA at the age of 25. Served as Mayor of Boston, Governor of MA, & US Senator. Statue dedicated 1958. More info in blog<LINK> Read more.
Contains picture of Pope John Paul II. Dedicated 1981 in recognition of 1979 visit of Pope to U.S. on the 350th anniversary of founding of Boston. Over 400K people showed up. More info via blog.<LINK> Read more.
Channing formerly preached to the congregation now located across road at Arlington Street Church from 1803-43. Known as Father of American Unitarianism. Statue erected 1903. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
Designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens whom spent 14 year in its creation. Shaw's tale is best told via the 1989 film "Glory." Gaudens used 40 men to model for this work. More info available via our blog Read more.
Located north of famous George Washington Equestrian statue. Sculpted by local artist Mary E. Moore. Fountain runs May-Sept. Tribute to innocence of youth. More info via blog. <LINK> Read more.
126 foot white granite monument dedicated to common persons who helped during the Civil War. Contains 4 bas-reliefs (1 on each side). To learn more about them and this monument check out our blog. Read more.
Tadeusz was a Colonel in the American Revolution and friends of both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Statue was sculpted by local artist Alice Ruggles Kitson. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
Best known for leading the "Fighting 9th" Regiment for the Union Army during the Civil War. This is 2nd incarnation of this statue as the original was deemed unsatisfactory. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
To left of entrance is statue of former preacher Phillips Brooks by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (famous for Shaw Memorial in Boston Common). Brooks wrote O’ Little Town of Bethlehem. More via our blog. Read more.
Tortoise and Hare statue. Tribute to runners of Boston Marathon which ends near here. Created by Nancy Schon who also did Make Way for Ducklings statues. More via our blog Read more.
Sculpted by Daniel Chester French (most famous for Lincoln Memorial). Phillips was a lawyer who quit his practice after hearing speech by abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. More info in blog. <LINK> Read more.
