5 significant monuments and memorials in Boston

The statue of Mary Dyer at the Massachusetts State House honors her as a key figure in Boston’s history. Executed in 1660 for her Quaker beliefs,
her martyrdom underscored the era’s severe religious intolerance. Her death significantly influenced the region’s evolution towards religious freedom, immortalizing her legacy in the heart of Boston.

Located near Boston Common, the Edgar Allan Poe statue, titled Poe Returning to Boston, honors the writer born in Boston’s Bay Village in 1809. It depicts Poe striding away from the Common, symbolizing his disdain for Bostonians, with a raven by his side, reminding us of his complex but important relationship with Boston.

The Step on Board Harriet Tubman Memorial in the South End powerfully honors Boston’s historical role as a key hub on the Underground Railroad. Tubman, who often visited the city, is celebrated for her courageous efforts in leading countless enslaved individuals to freedom, with Boston serving as a vital passage on their journey.

Facing the Massachusetts State House, this monument honors the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, one of the first official African American units in the U.S. during the Civil War. Recruited and trained in Boston, the regiment’s heroic 1863 assault on Fort Wagner is a significant chapter Civil War history.

Chow Manderien’s grave in the Central Burial Ground marks an important aspect of Boston’s immigrant history. As the grave of the first documented Chinese person in the U.S., it serves as a historical reminder of the early challenges and contributions of Chinese immigrants in Boston and the broader American society.