This is another not so famous memorial that Boston has, but should be. It is right off the Freedom Trail and is a great piece of history. The statues are of three starving figures and three healthy walking figures. This represents the help that Boston sent to the Irish during the famine years and how they accepted them to come live here rather than starving. I really did not know anything at all about this and how much Boston helped during this time. I enjoyed seeing this statues and learning more about history with this surprising memorial right downtown. read more

Boston Irish Famine Memorial - Public Art Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Along the Freedom Trail by Washington and School Street is a small plaza with two bronze statues, the Boston Irish Famine Memorial. One statue depicts a starving Irish family during the Great Famine that took place in Ireland between 1845 to 1852, and the other statue is of a prosperous family that immigrated to America. The statues are by New York sculptor Robert Shure and were unveiled on June 28, 1998. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit the memorial, but the plaza is a nice place to sit down and enjoy the sun. [Yelp collections: Boston, MA 2025; Monuments, Memorials, and Historical Markers] read more

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We came across this memorial. On our way to the Boston Commons from our hotel. An interesting group of statues and a few monuments to read some plaques. Obviously a devastating time for a number of my family members that came over from Ireland. A very interesting place to walk around and read. read more

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A FREE EVENT & IF YOU COME ON SUNDAYS THE PARKING IS FREE AT THE METERS! The Boston Irish Famine Memorial is located right across from the multi glass story Walgreens in Downtown Boston. The Memorial is located in a small memorial park in the Downtown Crossing Plaza between Washington & School St. The Great Famine in Ireland happened between 1845 & 1852. It was a period of starvation & disease that scourged the country. Approximately 1 million people died & more than 2 million fled Ireland to many cities in North America including Boston. The cause of the famine was a potato blight that infected the potato crop. One of the major contributing factors was that Ireland had a system that had a single crop dependence - the potato. The remaining living people of Ireland were gaunt. Many died on the side of the road with green stained faces in an attempt to stay alive by eating grass. On March 27, 1847 The USS Jamestown left Boston with 800 Tons of Food, Clothing & Supplies to help The Irish people. 2 Weeks later they landed in Cork Harbor. Millions chose to leave Ireland on ships but unfortunately that didn't resolve all the problems. Many people died on boats & they were referred to as Coffin Ships. In fact so many passengers passed away at sea that poet John Boyle nicknamed the Atlantic Ocean - A Bowl of Tears. There are multiple statues, pedestals & plaques depicting various aspects of the Potato Famine. Over 3 million people visit here every year & learn about the history. It is located along The Freedom Trail. To make it worth your trip, there's the flagship Walgreens that's directly across the street. It was a former Boston Five Cent Savings Bank. They have restored its architecture to its glory days but modern at the same time. There is a real old school vault inside that they have turned into a tiny museum as well. Also right around the corner is a good sandwich shop called Sam La Grassa's. And close by is the Omni Parker Hotel where you can order a piece of the original Boston Cream pie that was invented there. You can read my individual reviews of each of those as well. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget! read more

Of course, Boston is well known for their Irish immigrants and so there is this memorial to those who lost their lives during the Irish Famine. It is tasteful and appropriate with two sets of statues and a number of different plaques that describe the happenings of the famine and the lives lost. The first set of statues has a family of three, looking hungry with one shouting to the heavens. They have a basket at their feet and it's empty, clearly evoking the feeling of hunger and emptiness. They definitely look thin - the kneeling one has her ribs showing. The second set of statues looks better fed, better dressed and is fully upright. They look like citizens who have taken control and moved on. Do not feed the pigeons! It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the Downtown Crossing area. read more

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3.5 stars When I write my reviews on my vacation in Boston, there are in the ballpark of 20 reviews left. In the process of lowering it to 19 more, I shuffle my deck of index cards. The winning card reads "The Irish Famine Memorial." This is an interesting outcome considering that yesterday the card landed on Rachel Revere Square another public square further north on the Freedom Trail. There were two visits to the Irish Famine Memorial. They were unintentional in the course of touring the city. It makes sense that we would spent some time here considering that it sits in the heart of downtown at the entrance to the Boston flagship Walgreens Store. It makes sense considering that in addition to being at the corner of happiness and health (Walgreens) it is at the corner of Washington Street-the longest street in Boston and School Street along the Boston Freedom Trail where Downtown Crossing changes into the Financial District. When we sat on the bench in the Irish Famine Memorial, we were in essence were also sitting at the patio of a flagship Walgreens. When I looked toward the 12 o' clock position I saw a row of chain stores in a historic building by the Old Bookstore site. Turning toward the 3 o' clock position my eyes took in a grand view of the Old South Meeting House. Looking toward 6 and 9 o' clock I saw Walgreens. In between the clock numbers position of this view was the heart of the Irish Famine Memorial. The heart of the view dates back to June 1998 on the 150 Anniversary of the Irish Potato famine when this Memorial was created. The following paragraph explains the Memorial in more detail. The Memorial tells the story of a terrible famine that destroyed the potato plants in Ireland. Millions of people were negatively affected. Several of them sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to start a new life in Boston. The Memorial tells this story of struggle using eight narrative plaques with two groups of bronze and granite figures sculptures created by Robert Shure. The first group of sculptured figures are impoverished people that are struggling. And the second group of sculptures are a group of happy people. Saddly there are some people that are struggling at the site of the Irish Famine Memorial. They are struggling mentally and financially. Our first night here was cut short because of an annoying couple that to put it nicely were not running on Dunkin (Donuts). On the second visit a mentally challenged woman was screaming at random strangers. During banker hours there were several people here to give a sense of safety. If you have $, across from the Irish Famine Memorial there are several places to curb hunger. They include Bruegger's Bagels, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, and 7-Eleven. Right now I am reaching a famine of words approaching the Yelp character limit. Closing this review I recommend spending a few minutes here when touring the Boston Freedom Trail. read more

Interesting little spot I stumbled during my tour of Boston. This was a Memorial of the Irish potato famine, which caused a large migration of Irish people to the United States. It stands as a Memorial to the fact that our nation was built by immigrants. Sadly, so many of our people have forgotten that. During my time in Boston, there was a large protest in front of a government building (don't know if it was city hall) protesting against sanctuary cities and giving sanctuary to immigrants. Really shocking when then u stumble upon this site. I wonder how many of those same angry people had ancestors who came to America due to the potato famine? Considering this is Boston, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a significant percentage. How many of their ancestors were mistreated when they came? The American Party aka "Know Nothing " Party, a nativist reactionary political party treated them and German immigrants terribly. Depicting those people as responsible for crime and the social ills of America. Are we fated to repeat our history? It's sad really, how we don't know our own history. It's a tragedy that we hate people, whose only crime is escaping tyranny, violence, hunger... who's only want is to give themselves and their children a better life. Perhaps those angry protestors should visit this place and reflect.... but we know they won't. read more

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Jeez don't get hung up on the art. Personally I get it and I am Irish. The art represents stoicism and a thriving spirit which we have. Boston has a huge Irish community. More pubs here than Dublin. read more

Boston Irish Famine Memorial - Public Art Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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A tiny oasis in the middle of the bustle of Downtown Crossing. The two statues depict the plight of the Irish back in the late 19th and early 20th century. The area is open but also enclosed by a curved wall/bench. It's very thought provoking as well as a perfect easily located central meeting point for a family tour of downtown Boston. read more

Boston Irish Famine Memorial - The parallel statues - Public Art Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

An interesting piece of art along the Freedom Trail. The art is composed of two statues of Irish families, in front of the Walgreens. One of the families is looking good, happy and marching forward, looking off at the horizon, sure of their future, living the dream. While the other is in deep grief, anguish crying out, a victim of circumstances beyond their own control. Eight different panels surround the works of art explaining the impact of the Irish Famine, and the toll it took on all of humanity. Boston has a large Irish population, and many ended up here as a result, being refugees from Ireland. It seems to be a pretty blunt piece of art, explaining the dire circumstances in a very literal manner. The statue is often covered in birds. It's worth checking out this piece of art along the trail, and taking a moment to reflect on the plight of the Irish, and how America is comprised of immigrants. read more

I actually enjoyed reading about this little piece of American History that probably does not get as much mention as all the others, but a definite symbolism of the American Dream that many immigrants, old and new, still believe as they make the journey across the world to live in America. This is located on the corner across the street from the Old South Meeting Hall and the parallelism symbolism of both statues as the past and present really doesn't hit you if you're looking at it one at a time; but when you step back and look at both, the deep meaning in present in the facial expressions and gestures of the family on each platform. Definitely a good history lesson located in a small park along the Freedom Trail and worthy of its place in tourist's search for some history of America. read more

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You can review a piece of public art? I wish I'd known this sooner! This is perhaps one of the most atrocious displays of public art I have ever seen in my life. It has no nuance, no symbolism, there's no room for interpretation by the viewer or any chance of coming to different conclusions about the meaning and message...it just hits you with a sledge hammer and screams "DO YOU GET IT? IT'S NOT TOO SUBTLE, IS IT?" That's not how public art should be. I'm sorry to sound like a snob but this is the kind of "art" that appeals to people that don't know anything about art and lack the intellectual curiosity to reflect on it and try to deduce the artist's intent, like the people that couldn't understand how you could build a Vietnam Memorial without having a statue of a soldier. And in "the Athens of America," to design art that appeals to the lowest common denominator is an embarrassment. We can do better than this abomination. read more

Boston's attempts at public art are woefully inadequate. This town is resplendent with ugly artworks, and ugly buildings. City Hall, anyone? - This particular piece of "art" is just horrendous, and my least favorite in town. Made up of 2 pieces, one showing an emaciated family and the other, a rather happy and healthy one, this "artwork" is just plain ugly. I can't imagine who thought this was a good idea, or how much it cost the taxpayers to install. Boston, I am disappointed in you. Again. read more

What I don't understand is why none of the statues have shoes. Wouldn't the half of the statues that are making it in America have shoes? The pigeons adore these statues, that poor woman almost always has one on her head and hands...and lots of pigeon pooh on them, yuck. Not the best statues or memorial that Boston could have offered for this immigrant group. read more

For such a large group of immigrants to come into Boston (my husband's family included), this piece seems woefully lacking. It was fun to stumble on it, but it literally felt like that. We had no idea there was anything in Boston remembering this event. Two small plaques explain what this is, otherwise we might have easily passed it up thinking it was for the holocaust or something. It's not terrible, but it's not great. read more

Is it wrong that this statue reminds me of the episode of Arrested Development when GOB and Steve Holt meet at the missing fathers retreat, next to the statue with the kid holding a severed hand? Because it does. In theory, this should be in a place that's more exposed to the outside world. The Washington St. area, with its practical enclosure due to the large buildings surrounding it, adds a dark ambiance to an already dark period in Irish history. Plopped outside the Borders, it's more of a curiosity than anything else, a wonderment of why those people look so sad, when the brass statues in other squares just kind of look indifferent. So, it's already in a weird place and it reminds me of an episode of a TV show (albeit a good one). It is a part of my heritage, or possibly just half of it (the other half might be English, so I might actually be oppressing myself here... sweet :D ). So for that, it gets 3 stars, and the hope that people realize it's there, and it's not just annoyed and sad brass people that randomly drifted out of the Borders after trying to fight through a line of "Twilight" fans. read more

I dont understand the negative reviews of the statue. Its meant to be a historical statue to make us remember the irish famine, which was a major turning point in the Irish coming to Boston. Why should a horrible event in our history have a positive statue? its mean to be horrendous to remind us of what happened. Its not meant to be a happy nor friendly statue. The statue itself is well designed and I never have a problem with it, though most people think I'm weird and different. So what. I'm from Boston. deal with it =) If you don't like the unusual and different from the norm Boston isn't the city for you =) read more

This parklet (mini park) is a thought-provoking and moving reminder of the Irish potato famine. It's a tiny oasis of deep thought in the midst of Boston's hustle and bustle. While it's a bit strange that the description is broken into 8 separate signs, I learned a lot and felt intensely connected to my ancestors. read more

I'm mostly posting this review because I saw this symbolized as a park on Google and want to warn tourists that they shouldn't bother -- it's not really a park. It's more like a statue that guards the entrance to a Borders book store. For real parks, try the delightful and closeby Post Office Square (http://www.yelp.com/biz/post-office-square-boston-2) or Boston Common. read more

I can't believe the small minds who posted about this memorial. I won't review the entire Irish famine history, just the points addressed here. No one is wearing shoes because they've sold their shoes and in reality most if not all their other clothing to buy whatever food was available or to buy a ticket for deck passage on a "famine ship". Deck passage is a space on deck from Ireland to Canada or the US. No bunk just the spot on deck. I there was a storm your dream of a better life ended when you rolled overboard and drowned in the cold ocean. Think of Three to five years of disease attacking your main source of food or livelihood. Leaving nothing to plant or eat. Then having to sell your home and land to qualify for the poor house (if there was room). All the while the Anglo-Irish and English landowners and government blame the potato and the starving for being lazy, one crop drains on government resources. At least a million people died in Ireland and 2 million emigrated to the US and Canada from which came the 50 million Irish Americans hear today. Now tell me about arrested development and the hand which was likely all that was left of a relative after rats or dogs had finished with the dead body its family was too weak to bury and too poor to put in a coffin. If I had a criticism of the memoria I'd say the statues of the starving look too well nourished. When the starving were driven off their land by landowners (so the landowner wouldn't have to pay the tax to support poor houses or soup kitchens) it was said that 'the graves were walking'. They looked like the unburied dead walking. I'd have to say the Famine Memorial Committee did well with the money they had and it's sad to see those whose knowledge of the Irish begins and ends on March 17th criticizing or minimizing the memorial. read more

These are profoundly moving statues and accompanied by historical input. Amidst the bustle of today's current reality, this reminds us of the city's rich heritage and how we all gained from the Irish struggles and courage. The location is modest but directly takes the viewer back through time to the same spot where our ancestors walked. read more