Robert Gould Shaw Memorial

Beacon Hill & Boston Common


The magnificent bas-relief memorial opposite the State House was sculpted by Augustus St Gaudens. It honors the 54th Massachusetts Regiment of the Union Army, the nation's first all-black Civil War regiment, depicted in the 1989 film Glory. This is also the starting point for the Black Heritage Trail.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Beacon Hill & Boston Common attractions

1. Boston Athenaeum

0.08 MILES

Founded in 1807, the Boston Athenaeum is an old and distinguished private library, having hosted the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne…

2. Massachusetts State House

0.09 MILES

High atop Beacon Hill, Massachusetts’ leaders and legislators attempt to turn their ideas into concrete policies and practices within the State House…

3. Park St Church

0.09 MILES

Shortly after the construction of Park St Church, powder for the War of 1812 was stored in the basement, earning this location the moniker ‘Brimstone…

4. Granary Burying Ground

0.09 MILES

Dating from 1660, this atmospheric atoll is crammed with historic headstones, many with evocative (and creepy) carvings. This is the final resting place…

5. Blaxton Plaque

0.09 MILES

The 50-acre Boston Common is the country’s oldest public park. If you have any doubt, refer to the plaque emblazoned with the words of the treaty between…

6. Brewer Fountain

0.09 MILES

Dating to 1868, this lovely bronze fountain depicts four aquatic deities from antiquity.

7. Nichols House Museum

0.14 MILES

This 1804 town house offers the rare opportunity to peek inside one of these classic Beacon Hill beauties. Attributed to Charles Bulfinch, it is unique in…

8. Great Elm Site

0.14 MILES

Now marked by a plaque, the Great Elm stood on this site for more than 200 years. History has it that the tree was used for public executions in the 17th…