Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Civil War memorial in Boston Common, United States
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a Civil War memorial on Boston Common consisting of a 126-foot white granite column topped with a bronze figure of America holding a flag and laurel wreath. Bronze tablets at the base feature wartime scenes and historical inscriptions.
The monument was designed by Martin Milmore and dedicated in 1877 to honor Massachusetts soldiers and sailors who died during the Civil War. It was one of the first major memorials built in Boston following the conflict.
The four bronze tablets at the base show scenes from wartime, including soldiers departing and returning home. These depictions tell the stories of service and family separation in a way visitors can see and understand while walking around the monument.
The monument sits on Flag Staff Hill within Boston Common and is easily reached on foot. The site is open and accessible, best visited during daylight hours, especially on Memorial Day when it receives annual tributes and displays a flag garden.
The monument includes uncommon representations of female Sanitary Commission volunteers, acknowledging the role of women during the Civil War. These depictions are rare in memorials from that era and highlight contributions often overlooked in war remembrances.
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