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24 Greater Boston Military Memorials and Monuments

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To mark Memorial Day on Monday, we've expanded our map of military memorials and monuments around the Greater Boston area. These two dozen testaments include the world famous (Memorial Hall in Cambridge, the 54th Massachusetts sculpture and the U.S. Constitution) as well as the more obscure (the Beirut memorial in Christopher Columbus Park, the Spanish-American War murals in the State House and what's likely the nation's oldest Vietnam War memorial in South Boston). They also span the generations, from the Revolution to the present day.


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Minuteman Statue

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Erected in 1900 and depicting militia Captain John Parker, the statue looms at one end of Lexington Common, which is situated amongst the scene of the first battle in the Revolutionary War.

Cambridge Common Cannons

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These three cannon were seized by Washington’s army after the British evacuated the Boston area in 1776.

Fort Washington Mounds

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General Washington ordered three batteries to be built for cannon aimed at Boston across the river. These mounds are what’s left, the last reminder dating uninterrupted to the 18th century of the Continental Army’s Cambridge presence.

Boston Massacre

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In March 1770, British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators, killing five and wounding 11.

Bunker Hill

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The June 17, 1775 battle was the first major one of the Revolutionary War and technically a British win.

Boston Tea Party

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Though recently co-opted by some on the right, the original Tea Party involved dumping more than 10,000 pounds of tea from three ships docked off what was called Griffin Wharf.

Powder House

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In September 1774, the British launched a pre-emptive raid against the magazines of colonial militia. Within a year, such thievery would blow up in their face.

U.S.S. Constitution Museum

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Honoring the world’s oldest naval vessel still afloat (born: 1797), the museum especially chronicles Old Ironsides role in the War of 1812.

54th Massachusetts Memorial

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The sculpture commemorating the Civil War role of the 54th Massachusetts, the first all-black regiment in the American army, took Augustus Saint-Gaudens nearly 14 years to complete. It was unveiled in 1897.

Joseph Hooker Statue

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Unveiled in 1903, it commemorates Joseph Hooker, who commanded the Army of the Potomac in 1863, declaring, “May God have mercy on General Lee, for I will have none.”

Boston Soldiers and Sailors Monument

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Completed in 1877 on the highest point on Boston Common, the memorial honors Bostonians who fought for the Union.

Jamaica Plain Monument

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The 27-foot monument was unveiled in 1871 to commemorate the Civil War contributions of the then-Town of West Roxbury.

Lincoln – Soldier Monument

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Completed in 1871, the monument on Cambridge Common includes a statue at the top of a Civil War soldier and a bronze of President Lincoln below.

Memorial Hall

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Finished in 1877, the hall continues as a monument to those Harvard students and alum who died fighting for the U.S. in the Civil War (Confederate casualties are not mentioned).

Spanish-American War Memorial

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Located inside the State House, the memorial features murals depicting Massachusetts’ role in the war (amid other wars).

Massachusetts Korean War Veterans Memorial

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The memorial to the more than 1,500 Massachusetts casualties in the war—and the dozens still missing—is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard and was finished in 1993.

South Boston Vietnam War Memorial

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It was dedicated in September 1981, and is thought to be the oldest Vietnam War memorial in the nation.

Vietnam War Memorial

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Finished in 1989, the memorial includes a map of Vietnam and a stone plaza.

South Boston Korean War Memorial

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The Castle Island monument honors the 20 Southie men who died in the early 1950s war.

World War II Memorial

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Erected in 1949, the monument built around a winged Victory memorializes the more than 3,000 Bostonians who died in the war.

Old North Church Memorial Garden

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Using nameless dog tags, the garden memorializes those killed the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Roslindale World War I Memorial

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It took until 1958—40 years after the war’s end and after another world war—to complete the monument to Roslindale’s Great War fallen.

Beirut Memorial

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Located in Christopher Columbus Park and unveiled in 1992, this commemorates those killed in the 1983 terrorist attack on a barracks in the Lebanese capital.

Charlestown Civil War Memorial

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Dating from 1872, this granite memorial commemorates Civil War soldiers and sailors from Charlestown. It's located in the same field where colonial minutemen trained during the American Revolution

Dorchester Heights Monument

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As the City of Boston puts it, "Dorchester Heights is famous for a battle that never happened." Basically, the British ceded the heights to Washington's fortified troops there, and evacuated Boston in March 1776. The marble monument was dedicated in 1902.

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Minuteman Statue

Erected in 1900 and depicting militia Captain John Parker, the statue looms at one end of Lexington Common, which is situated amongst the scene of the first battle in the Revolutionary War.

Cambridge Common Cannons

These three cannon were seized by Washington’s army after the British evacuated the Boston area in 1776.

Fort Washington Mounds

General Washington ordered three batteries to be built for cannon aimed at Boston across the river. These mounds are what’s left, the last reminder dating uninterrupted to the 18th century of the Continental Army’s Cambridge presence.

Boston Massacre

In March 1770, British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators, killing five and wounding 11.

Bunker Hill

The June 17, 1775 battle was the first major one of the Revolutionary War and technically a British win.

Boston Tea Party

Though recently co-opted by some on the right, the original Tea Party involved dumping more than 10,000 pounds of tea from three ships docked off what was called Griffin Wharf.

Powder House

In September 1774, the British launched a pre-emptive raid against the magazines of colonial militia. Within a year, such thievery would blow up in their face.

U.S.S. Constitution Museum

Honoring the world’s oldest naval vessel still afloat (born: 1797), the museum especially chronicles Old Ironsides role in the War of 1812.

54th Massachusetts Memorial

The sculpture commemorating the Civil War role of the 54th Massachusetts, the first all-black regiment in the American army, took Augustus Saint-Gaudens nearly 14 years to complete. It was unveiled in 1897.

Joseph Hooker Statue

Unveiled in 1903, it commemorates Joseph Hooker, who commanded the Army of the Potomac in 1863, declaring, “May God have mercy on General Lee, for I will have none.”

Boston Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Completed in 1877 on the highest point on Boston Common, the memorial honors Bostonians who fought for the Union.

Jamaica Plain Monument

The 27-foot monument was unveiled in 1871 to commemorate the Civil War contributions of the then-Town of West Roxbury.

Lincoln – Soldier Monument

Completed in 1871, the monument on Cambridge Common includes a statue at the top of a Civil War soldier and a bronze of President Lincoln below.

Memorial Hall

Finished in 1877, the hall continues as a monument to those Harvard students and alum who died fighting for the U.S. in the Civil War (Confederate casualties are not mentioned).

Spanish-American War Memorial

Located inside the State House, the memorial features murals depicting Massachusetts’ role in the war (amid other wars).

Massachusetts Korean War Veterans Memorial

The memorial to the more than 1,500 Massachusetts casualties in the war—and the dozens still missing—is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard and was finished in 1993.

South Boston Vietnam War Memorial

It was dedicated in September 1981, and is thought to be the oldest Vietnam War memorial in the nation.

Vietnam War Memorial

Finished in 1989, the memorial includes a map of Vietnam and a stone plaza.

South Boston Korean War Memorial

The Castle Island monument honors the 20 Southie men who died in the early 1950s war.

World War II Memorial

Erected in 1949, the monument built around a winged Victory memorializes the more than 3,000 Bostonians who died in the war.

Old North Church Memorial Garden

Using nameless dog tags, the garden memorializes those killed the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Roslindale World War I Memorial

It took until 1958—40 years after the war’s end and after another world war—to complete the monument to Roslindale’s Great War fallen.

Beirut Memorial

Located in Christopher Columbus Park and unveiled in 1992, this commemorates those killed in the 1983 terrorist attack on a barracks in the Lebanese capital.

Charlestown Civil War Memorial

Dating from 1872, this granite memorial commemorates Civil War soldiers and sailors from Charlestown. It's located in the same field where colonial minutemen trained during the American Revolution

Dorchester Heights Monument

As the City of Boston puts it, "Dorchester Heights is famous for a battle that never happened." Basically, the British ceded the heights to Washington's fortified troops there, and evacuated Boston in March 1776. The marble monument was dedicated in 1902.