Boston Women's Memorial facts for kids

The Boston Women's Memorial is a special group of three statues in Boston, Massachusetts. These statues are made of bronze and granite. You can find them on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. They honor three important women: Phillis Wheatley, Abigail Adams, and Lucy Stone.

Honoring Important Women

In 1992, people in Boston started talking about creating a memorial for women. They noticed that most statues in the city honored men. Many felt it was time to celebrate women's contributions too.

Planning the Memorial

Different groups worked together to make this memorial happen. These included the Boston Women's Commission and the Massachusetts Historical Society. Angela Menino, the mayor's wife, also supported the project. It took 12 years to plan and create the memorial.

They chose three amazing women from Massachusetts history. These women were picked because of the big impact they had on society. They all used their writing to make a difference.

The Artist and Unveiling

A sculptor named Meredith Bergmann from New York won the design competition. Her design was chosen to bring the memorial to life. The statues were officially shown to the public on October 25, 2003. Boston's mayor, Thomas Menino, was there for the unveiling.

Some people felt the memorial was a quick way to add women's art to the city. They thought these three important women deserved their own separate statues. Christine Temin from Boston Globe wrote about this. She said memorials for men don't group heroes together, and women's memorials shouldn't either.

Statues at Street Level

The statues are placed at street level, not high up on tall pedestals. This design choice shows how women's liberation has brought women "down off their pedestals." It means women are seen as equals, not just figures to admire from afar.

For example, the statue of Lucy Stone shows her using her pedestal as a desk. She is working on the Woman's Journal, a newspaper she started. Important quotes from each woman are carved into the bases of their statues.

A Popular Landmark

The Boston Women's Memorial has become very popular with local people. Visitors often leave items at or on the statues. In winter, you might see scarves around their necks. When the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, one statue even wore a Red Sox cap! After the 2016 election, people tucked notes of apology into the statues' hands.

Talking Statues Program

For the memorial's 20th anniversary in 2023, new recordings were added. You can now scan a QR code at the memorial to hear voices. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley reads from Phillis Wheatley's works. Attorney General Andrea Campbell reads from Abigail Adams' writings. Mayor Michelle Wu reads words from Lucy Stone. This is part of the Talking Statues program.

The memorial is also a stop on the Ladies Walk of the Boston Women's Heritage Trail.

See also

In Spanish: Monumento conmemorativo a las mujeres de Boston para niños