Sean Collier Memorial

The Sean Collier Memorial consists of 32 granite blocks that create a curved structure with five wings radiating outward at the campus entrance. The blocks come from the White Mountains of New Hampshire and surround a central void shaped like a trail cairn.

An MIT police officer died in April 2013 when the Boston Marathon bombers attacked him during their escape. The memorial was dedicated two years later on April 29, 2015.

The arrangement of granite blocks forms a hand-like shape that recalls the university motto linking thought and action. Walking through the five curved wings, visitors notice small brass buttons set in the ground that carry the officer's badge number in Braille.

The site is open to the public and sits directly at the campus entrance, making it easy to view from the sidewalk. Ground lighting highlights the structure after dark.

The central void between the wings forms exactly the shape of a trail cairn that hikers build on mountain paths. The officer had placed such markers on hiking trails in the mountains as a member of the university outdoor club.

Location: Cambridge

Inception: April 29, 2015

Architects: Meejin Yoon

Made from material: granite

GPS coordinates: 42.36039,-71.08911

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:31