Find A Park > Central Park > Monuments > Pilgrim

Central Park

Back to MonumentsList

View all monuments in NYC Parks, as well as temporary public art installations on our NYC Public Art Map and Guide.

Pilgrim

* Click on image to zoom in

* Click map for directions

Artist:
John Quincey Adams Ward
Dedicated:June 6, 1885
Location:East 72nd St. entrance

Artwork History

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

This bronze piece by acclaimed sculptor John Quincy Adams Ward (1830–1910) depicts one of the Pilgrims that landed at Massachusetts’s Plymouth Rock in November 1620. The monument was commissioned by the New England Society for the organization’s 75th anniversary.

The monumental figure is leaning on his musket, and his hat, boots, and belt buckle evoke the dress of the period. Architect Richard Morris Hunt (1828–1895) designed the rusticated granite pedestal, which features four bas-reliefs depicting various significant aspects of the Pilgrims’ landing, including the Mayflower ship and an image of a bible and sword. The piece was dedicated in 1885 in Central Park at the north side of the East 72nd Street throughway. The slope below the monument, known as Pilgrim Hill, has long been a favorite locale for sledding during the winter. In 1979, the Central Park Conservancy chose this piece as one of the first to be restored in Central Park’s comprehensive program to restore its collection of statuary. The powder flasks were recast and replaced in 1999.

Sculptor Ward has been referred to as the “Dean of American Sculptors.” He contributed nine sculptures to the parks of New York, among them Roscoe Conkling (1893) in Madison Square Park, Alexander Holley (1888) in Washington Square Park, William Earl Dodge (1885), now in Bryant Park, Henry Ward Beecher (1891) in Columbus Park, Brooklyn, Horace Greeley (1890) in City Hall Park, and The Indian Hunter (1869), William Shakespeare (1872), and the Seventh Regiment Memorial (1874) in Central Park. Ward worked with Richard Morris Hunt on many of these pieces. Hunt designed the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty (1886) and is honored with a bust and memorial by Daniel Chester French (1850–1931) near Fifth Avenue between 70th and 71st Streets.

Artwork Details

Description:Statue, pedestal with sculptural panel
Architect:Richard Morris Hunt
Materials:Bronze, Quincy granite
Dimensions:Statue H: 9'; Pedestal H: 16'7 ½" W: 5'10" D: 5'10"
Foundry:H. Bonnard, NYC
Donor:New England Society

Inscription

TO COMMEMORATE / THE LANDING OF THE / PILGRIM FATHERS / ON / PLYMOUTH
ROCK / DECEMBER 21, 1620/

/ERECTED BY THE / NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY / IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK/
1885/

Please note, the NAME field includes a primary designation as well as alternate namingsoften in common or popular usage. The DEDICATED field refers to the most recent dedication, most often, butnot necessarily the original dedication date. If the monument did not have a formal dedication, the yearlisted reflects the date of installation.

For more information, please contact Art & Antiquities at (212) 360-8163.

Check out your park's Vital Signs

Clean & Safe

92
Park Condition Score
$70.2M
Recent Investment

Green & Resilient

12.3K
Mapped Trees
74
Acres of Natural Areas

Empowered & Engaged Users

303
Recent & Future Events
Yes
Volunteer Engagement

Share your feedback or learn more about how this park is part of a Vital Park System

Partner Organization

Central Park Conservancy

Contacts

Central Park Information: (212) 310-6600
Central Park Information (for the Hearing Impaired): (800) 281-5722
Belvedere Castle, The Henry Luce Nature Observatory: (212) 772-0210
The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center: (212) 860-1370
The Dairy Visitor Center and Gift Shop: (212) 794-6564
North Meadow Recreation Center: (212) 348-4867
Loeb Boathouse (Bike rentals, boat rentals & gondolas): (212) 517-2233
Carousel: (212) 879-0244
Fishing at Harlem Meer (Catch & Release): (212) 860-1370
Harlem Meer Performance Festival: (212) 860-1370
Horseback Riding - Claremont Stables: (212) 724-5100
Metropolitan Opera (Performances on the Great Lawn): (212) 362-6000
New York Philharmonic (Performances on the Great Lawn): (212) 875-5709
Shakespeare in the Park - The Public Theater at the Delacorte Theater: (212) 539-8655
Central Park SummerStage: (212) 360-2777
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater: (212) 988-9093
Tennis: (212) 280-0205
Weddings, Ceremonies and Photography at the Conservatory Garden: (212) 360-2766
Wildlife Center & Tisch Children's Zoo: (212) 439-6500