15 Best Monuments in Boston

The New England Holocaust Memorial is a powerful Boston memorial park along the Freedom Trail. Six tall glass towers represent the major extermination camps, with identification numbers covering the glass and survivor quotations adding a deeply personal dimension. Steam rising through the structures creates an especially striking effect as visitors walk through the memorial.

The George Washington Statue is a substantial bronze equestrian monument at the Commonwealth Avenue entrance to Boston’s Public Garden. Created by Thomas Ball and dedicated in 1869, it presents Washington in military uniform on horseback, giving the landscaped setting a strong connection to the nation’s Revolutionary history.

Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the first major battle of the American Revolution and stands prominently on Breed's Hill in Boston. The granite obelisk anchors a historic site with open grounds, nearby green space, and a museum that adds context to the battle and monument. Ranger talks can bring lesser-known details of the Revolution into focus.

Set along Paul Revere Mall in Boston’s North End, the Paul Revere Statue is a natural pause on a walk toward Old North Church and other Freedom Trail landmarks. Its bronze figure stands on a Milford pink granite base, creating a memorable subject for photographs and a direct connection to the city’s Revolutionary-era story.

Facing the Massachusetts State House from Boston Common, the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial commemorates the soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, one of the country’s first all-Black regiments during the Civil War. Its location makes it an especially meaningful stop within the city’s historic core.

Boston National Historical Park at the Charlestown Navy Yard pairs a waterfront walk with some of the city’s most compelling naval history. Historic brick buildings, harbor views, the USS Constitution, and the adjoining museum create a substantial visit rather than a quick photo stop. Rangers and staff add useful context while keeping the experience approachable for families.

Boston Irish Famine Memorial is a compact but powerful monument near Downtown Crossing, close to the Old South Meeting House and the Freedom Trail. Its sculptures and inscriptions commemorate the Irish famine, the perilous journey to America, and the hardship faced by immigrants arriving in Boston.

Boston Massacre Site is a historical landmark in Boston that places visitors at an important location in the city’s Revolutionary-era story. The surrounding Freedom Trail connects it naturally with nearby historic sites, making it easy to include in a wider walk through central Boston.

Dorchester Heights Monument sits within a clean, green Boston park commemorating a decisive Revolutionary War position associated with Washington and Henry Knox. The grounds are suited to a quiet walk, a picnic break, reading, or simply taking in the open space away from city noise.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument is a dignified memorial set within Boston Common, commemorating those who served their country. Its setting makes it easy to include in a wider walk through one of Boston's most historic public parks, where lawns, paths, seasonal activity, and city views provide a relaxed backdrop.

The Boston Marathon Survivor Memorial is a quiet tribute in Boston, positioned near the marathon finish line on Boylston Street. Its understated design can be easy to overlook amid busy sidewalks, yet the setting invites a respectful pause to remember those killed and injured in the 2013 tragedy.

Ether Monument, also known as the Good Samaritan statue, marks a pivotal moment in medical history: the use of ether as an anesthetic. The forty-foot monument, installed in 1868, stands in Boston Public Garden and remains one of the city's most distinctive historical sculptures.

The Alexander Hamilton Statue stands along the shaded Commonwealth Avenue Mall, where mature trees, benches, and other monuments create a relaxed setting for an architectural and historical walk. Hamilton is portrayed in classical robes with a composed, contemplative posture rather than a theatrical pose.

The Tadeusz Kosciuszko Statue adds a meaningful historical stop to a walk through Boston’s Public Garden. It honors a Polish-Lithuanian-Belarusian patriot and American Revolutionary War figure whose work included designing fortifications at West Point and supporting the cause of freedom.

The Boston Massacre/Crispus Attucks Memorial is a substantial Boston monument dedicated to the five people killed on March 5, 1770. Rising 25 feet, it features the Spirit of the Revolution above a relief depicting the Boston Massacre, with the names of Crispus Attucks, James Caldwell, Patrick Carr, Samuel Gray and Samuel Maverick incorporated into the design.