Adams Memorial

Adams Memorial is a bronze monument set within a hexagonal granite enclosure at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington. The seated draped figure rests on a plain base, surrounded by trees and low hedges.

Henry Adams commissioned Augustus Saint-Gaudens to create the work after the death of his wife Marion in 1885. Stanford White designed the granite enclosure, which was completed in 1891.

The figure was created by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and carries no name, inviting personal interpretation. Visitors sometimes leave small stones or objects at its base, a quiet gesture of remembrance.

The memorial stands in the rear section of the cemetery, away from main paths and among tall trees. A short walk from the entrance leads through quiet sections with old gravesites.

The figure is sometimes called Grief, though Adams preferred no title and visitors interpret it differently. Saint-Gaudens modeled the bronze face based on studies of Asian sculpture from the Metropolitan Museum.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1891

Creator: Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Stanford White

Made from material: bronze, granite

GPS coordinates: 38.94739,-77.01031

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29