Thomas Paine Monument, Memorial monument in New Rochelle, United States
The Thomas Paine Monument is a sculpture at the corner of North Avenue and Paine Avenue in New Rochelle, New York. It consists of a bronze bust set on a marble base, honoring the writer who spent his final years in this city.
The monument was first built in 1839 by sculptor John Frazee, making it the earliest memorial to Thomas Paine in the country. The bronze bust that sits on top was added later in 1899 by sculptor James Wilson MacDonald, giving the structure its current form.
The monument marks the spot in a neighborhood where Thomas Paine spent the final years of his life, giving the site a personal connection beyond his writings. Visitors who know his story often pause here before continuing to the nearby cottage where he actually lived.
The monument stands at a street corner and is easy to find on foot, with no entry required to view it. It sits close to the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum, so both can be seen during the same short walk.
Between 1839 and 1881, visitors repeatedly broke off pieces of the marble base to keep as souvenirs, leaving the structure visibly damaged. When repairs were made, workers rounded off the sharp edges, which is why the base no longer has its original shape.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
