Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial

At the northeast corner of Boston Common, across from the Massachusetts State House, this bronze relief honors Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, one of the first Black regiments in the Civil War. Look closely at the sculpted soldiers and the memorial’s detailed stonework, including carved eagles. The site lies along the Freedom Trail and near the start of the Black Heritage Trail. Scan the code at the memorial or listen for a guide’s explanation to learn more about the regiment and its history.

The regiment and its memorial

The memorial honors Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, one of the first Black regiments to serve in the Civil War. Shaw and 77 other soldiers and officers died at the 1863 battle of Fort Wagner in South Carolina. The names of those killed in battle appear on the back of the monument.

The regiment’s history is connected to the Underground Railroad. People who escaped slavery and those who helped them are represented in the regiment, its recruitment, and the later work to commemorate its members. The memorial also marks a starting point for the Black Heritage Trail.

Reading the bronze relief

Augustus Saint-Gaudens created the memorial, completed in 1897. Shaw sits on horseback at the center of the relief, surrounded by the soldiers of the 54th. Their presence gives the sculpture its focus beyond the colonel whose name it bears.

Take time to look at the carved details, including eagles worked from solid stone. The memorial stands at the northeast corner of Boston Common, beside the road and sidewalk, directly across from the Massachusetts State House. Its position also makes it an easy stop while walking the Freedom Trail. A scan code at the site provides audio information, and guided tours can add context.