"...this monument will stand for effort, not victory complete. What these heroic souls of the 54th regiment began, we must complete."—Booker T. Washington
Since its dedication in 1897, the Robert Gould Shaw/54th Regiment Memorial has stood as a powerful testament to the ideals for which the soldiers of the 54th fought and died. It has also served as a place of memory, dialogue, and activism. The Memorial reminds us that, as Booker T. Washington proclaimed at the Memorial’s dedication ceremony in 1897, we must continue the work of these soldiers to realize this nation’s highest ideals.
This gallery highlights the continuing legacy of the Memorial in our national conversations on justice, freedom, and representation.
Gallery 1: Remembering the Regiment
In the years following the tragic Battle of Fort Wagner, veterans of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment regularly gathered to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in war. The Boston community remembered this regiment through commemorative events and Memorial Day practices. Today, we continue to come together to recognize the contributions and legacy of this "Brave Black Regiment."