Civil War Memorial: 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Memorial - Boston, MA

20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Boston, MA

N 42° 20.974 W 071° 04.644

Short Description:

A sculpture of a lion adorns the memorial honoring the members 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the Harvard Regiment, who fought in the Civil War. The memorial is located in the McKim Building of the Boston Public Library 700 Boylston St. in Boston, MA.

Long Description:

A larger than life sculpture of a lion in couchant position is one of a pair of lions sculpted by Louis St. Gaudens in 1890 and placed in the main branch of the Boston Public Library. The lion that was commissioned by and the honors the members of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry who fought in the Civil War adorns the left side of the grand staircase as you climb up the steps. The lion is sculptured from unpolished yellow Siena marble and rests on a 10' high rectangular marble base.

The back of the base contains the dedication:

IN HONOR

OF THE

TWENTIETH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE 

OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN ITS RANKS

THIS MONUMENT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CITY OF BOSTON

The upper part of the front of the base is inscribed with the names of Civil War Battles:

BALL'S BLUFF - FAIR OAKS - GLENDALE

MALVERN HILL - ANTIETAM - FREDRICKSBURG

MARYE'S HEIGHTS - GETTYSBURG - BRISTOE STATION

THE WILDERNESS - SPOTTSYLVANIA- COLD HARBOR

PETERSBURG - APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE

The lower part of the front has a bronze wreath in which is inscribed:

TWENTIETH

MASSACHUSETTS

INFANTRY

1861-1865