Boston Common Frog Pond and Soldiers Monument
Why is it significant?
Stroll onto the gentle grassy knolls surrounding the Frog Pond, the beloved recreational centerpiece of Boston Common.
Key Facts
| Place | Boston Common Frog Pond and Soldiers Monument |
|---|---|
| Address | 38 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, United States |
| Geo Coordinates | 42.35500, -71.06350 |
| Part of Walk | Beacon Hill, Black Heritage Trail and Charles River Esplanade: Boston's Golden Heights |
| Generated | Generated |
Stroll onto the gentle grassy knolls surrounding the Frog Pond, the beloved recreational centerpiece of Boston Common. Established in 1634 by Puritan colonists who purchased forty-four acres from hermit settler William Blaxton, Boston Common is officially recognized as the oldest municipal public park in the United States. For its first two centuries, it served as communal grazing pasture where each household was permitted to graze one cow.
High atop Flagstaff Hill overlooking the pond rises the monumental Soldiers and Sailors Monument, dedicated in 1877. Designed by distinguished sculptor Martin Milmore, this 126-foot granite column honors the Massachusetts soldiers and sailors who gave their lives to preserve the Union and destroy slavery during the American Civil War.
In colonial winters, the Frog Pond froze into a natural ice skating rink where generations of Boston youngsters played, a cherished tradition continued today on the modern refrigerated outdoor skating rink. During the British occupation of 1775, General Gage encamped seventeen hundred redcoats across these hills, digging defensive entrenchments and cutting down ancient elms for firewood. In 1848, the pond was the site of the grand Water Celebration, when over one hundred thousand jubilant citizens gathered to watch an eighty-foot geyser erupt from the pond, inaugurating Boston's first municipal aqueduct system that brought fresh water from Lake Cochituate.
Looking uphill from the edge of the pond, the gleaming gilded dome of the Massachusetts State House emerges through the tree canopy like a golden sun rising over the city. The blend of laughing children around the spray pool, elderly chess players under shady oaks, and soaring monumental art captures the timeless democratic spirit of Boston. Sitting beside the peaceful waters of the Frog Pond, watching the reflections of ancient trees against the sky, you experience the timeless democratic heart of Boston.
Walk northeast along the park path toward Park Street Church and the historic Granary gate.