Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maury Monument

The Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maury Monument is a bronze statue in Richmond showing the seated scientist positioned before a large granite pedestal. The memorial is crowned by a large bronze globe that brings together the various elements of his research.

The monument was created in 1929 by Frederick William Sievers to honor Maury's achievements as a Confederate naval officer and oceanography researcher. His work documenting ocean currents and wind patterns revolutionized shipping technology in the 1800s.

The monument depicts Maury surrounded by maritime imagery that reflects his scientific work on ocean systems. Visitors encounter representations of stormy seas and farming scenes that illustrate the different areas he studied.

The memorial stands at the intersection of Monument Avenue and Belmont Avenue and is easily accessible on foot. Note that bronze elements were removed in 2020 during citywide monument modifications.

The bronze globe features detailed representations of ocean currents and wind patterns that directly show Maury's groundbreaking oceanographic discoveries. These mappings were so accurate that they helped sailors for generations plan their routes.