Robert Gould Shaw Memorial
The Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, also called the Shaw Memorial or the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial, is a bronze relief on Boston Common, on Beacon Street, facing the Massachusetts State House. Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens made it to honor Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the Black soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, and it was unveiled on May 31, 1897. This page covers where the Shaw Memorial in Boston is, who Shaw was, what the relief shows, what the inscriptions say, and how the memorial connects to the Black Heritage Trail. It also shows how to fit a stop here into a day with Boston Sightseeing, using Stop 4 at Boston Common and Stop 8 at the State House.
Location
The memorial stands near the northeast corner of Boston Common, on Beacon Street, facing the Massachusetts State House, according to the National Park Service's landmark nomination. A National Park Service story on the memorial says the relief shows the 54th as it marched down Beacon Street in 1863, on its way to war.
The memorial is close to the Freedom Trail, a short walk from Park Street Church and the edge of Beacon Hill. The monument is outdoors and free to view, and it sits beside a busy sidewalk, so you can stop for a few minutes between other sights.
History
The Shaw Memorial is more than a statue of an officer. It honors a Black regiment and the white colonel who led it, and it took Saint-Gaudens nearly fourteen years to finish. Private donations paid for it. The National Register landmark nomination names McKim, Mead and White as the architects.
Who Was Robert Gould Shaw?
Robert Gould Shaw was the son of wealthy Boston abolitionists. Massachusetts Governor John Andrew chose him as colonel of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry in 1863. Shaw died on July 18, 1863, in the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, and many of his men died there too.
The 54th Massachusetts Regiment
The National Park Service describes the 54th as one of the first Black regiments of the Civil War. Its recruits came from across the North, and from Canada and the Caribbean. Sergeant William H. Carney saved the regiment's flag at Fort Wagner and became the first African American awarded the Medal of Honor. The regiment also fought at James Island, Olustee and Honey Hill, and it returned to Boston in September 1865. The NPS says its service helped inspire the enlistment of more than 180,000 Black soldiers.
The 1897 Dedication
The memorial was unveiled on May 31, 1897. One account lists Booker T. Washington among the speakers at the ceremony. In 1982, the names of the 62 other soldiers who died at Fort Wagner were added to the memorial. Sources disagree on where the names are carved, with one describing the lower part of the memorial and another the back, so look at both sides when you visit.
What To See At The Monument?
The relief shows Shaw on horseback with the 54th marching beside him down Beacon Street. The NPS says Saint-Gaudens hired forty men as models for the soldiers' faces in his New York studio, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum says he used more than 40 Black models. Look at the individual faces first, then at the rifles and packs along the line.
The Inscriptions
The relief carries a Latin line, Omnia relinquit servare rempublicam, which translators render as "He left all to save the Republic." The pedestal carries lines from James Russell Lowell's poem. The back carries words attributed to Harvard president Charles W. Eliot, which describe the regiment as proof that Americans of African descent have the courage and devotion of the patriot soldier.
Where Is Robert Gould Shaw Buried?
Shaw is not buried in Boston. According to historical accounts, Confederate forces buried him in a mass grave with the Black soldiers of his unit after Fort Wagner, which was meant as an insult. That is why the memorial honors him and his men together.
Nearby Attractions
The memorial sits among several of Boston's best-known historic sights, so it works as part of a short walking loop on the north side of the Common.
- Massachusetts State House: The gold-domed state capitol, directly across Beacon Street, and Stop 8 on the Boston Sightseeing route.
- Boston Common: The oldest city park in the United States and Stop 4 on the route.
- Park Street Church: A Freedom Trail landmark at the corner of the Common, listed near Stop 3 on the tour map.
- Beacon Hill: The historic neighborhood of gas lamps and brick rowhouses behind the State House.
- Granary Burying Ground: A short walk down Tremont Street from the Common.
- Boston Public Garden: The formal garden across Charles Street from the Common.
The Black Heritage Trail
The National Park Service says the Black Heritage Trail begins at the Shaw Memorial. From here, the Black Heritage Trail leads through Beacon Hill past homes, schools, churches and gathering places of the free Black community in 19th-century Boston. The African Meeting House, opened in 1806, is one of the main sites. It is run by the Museum of African American History, which charges admission. Most other trail sites are private homes and not open to the public. The NPS says ranger-guided tours are available seasonally and self-guided tours are available through the NPS app, so check its site for current times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial in Boston?
It is near the northeast corner of Boston Common, on Beacon Street, facing the Massachusetts State House.
Who was Robert Gould Shaw?
Shaw was the colonel of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, one of the first Black regiments of the Civil War. He was the son of wealthy Boston abolitionists, and he died leading the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, on July 18, 1863.
When was the Shaw Memorial unveiled?
It was unveiled on May 31, 1897. The names of 62 more soldiers who died at Fort Wagner were added in 1982.
Who made the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial?
Augustus Saint-Gaudens made the bronze relief. He worked on it for nearly fourteen years, and private donations paid for it.
What does the Shaw Memorial inscription say?
The relief carries the Latin line Omnia relinquit servare rempublicam, which translators render as "He left all to save the Republic." The pedestal carries lines from James Russell Lowell, and the back carries words attributed to Charles W. Eliot.
Where is Robert Gould Shaw buried?
Historical accounts say Confederate forces buried Shaw in a mass grave with the Black soldiers of his unit at Fort Wagner in South Carolina. He is not buried in Boston.
Is the Shaw Memorial free to visit?
Yes. It is an outdoor monument on Boston Common and has no admission fee.
What is the Shaw Memorial's link to the Black Heritage Trail?
The National Park Service says the Black Heritage Trail begins at the memorial. The trail continues through Beacon Hill to sites such as the African Meeting House.
How do I see the Shaw Memorial on a Boston Sightseeing tour?
Get off at Stop 4, Boston Common, or Stop 8, the Massachusetts State House, and walk to the memorial on Beacon Street. Both stops are covered by the All Day ticket.
Plan Your Boston Tour with Boston Sightseeing
Boston Sightseeing runs a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus with live commentary, so you can get off at a stop, walk to the memorial and rejoin the route later. Stop 4 is Boston Common, and Stop 8 is the Massachusetts State House, which sits directly across Beacon Street from the Shaw Memorial. Pair the memorial with Stop 5, Cheers Pub on Beacon Hill, or continue to Stop 6 Boston Public Library and Stop 7 Trinity Church in Back Bay.
The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8, so it includes both stops near the memorial. The Boston and Charlestown ticket covers Stops 1 to 11, and the Cruise Terminal ticket covers Stops 1 to 8 and 12 to 15. See the ticket cards below for current options, and use the hop-on hop-off tour map to see every stop.
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