Here’s The Story Behind The Fisherman's Memorial In Massachusetts
By Melissa Mahoney|Published February 11, 2022
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
If you live in Gloucester, you may already be familiar with the story of the most iconic statue in town. If you’re a visitor, you may have noticed it, maybe wondered about it, or maybe not thought much about it at all. Regardless, the Fisherman’s Memorial statue is certainly the most recognizable landmark in town. Standing and looking out towards Gloucester Bay, this memorial in Massachusetts has a story, and we are going to tell you all about it.
The small coastal city of Gloucester is found on Cape Ann. The area was first settled in 1623, and it was incorporated in 1642. It was named after Gloucester, England where the first settlers emigrated from.
As the nation's oldest seaport port, Gloucester is known for its fishing industry. Its maritime history has helped shape the town into what it is today.
The most notable landmark within the city is an eight-foot-tall bronze cenotaph statue of a fisherman behind a ship's wheel. It stands atop a five-foot granite base with the words "They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships, 1623-1923" engraved on it.
Also known as the "Man at the Wheel" and "Fishermen's Memorial Cenotaph," Gloucester's Fisherman's Memorial was designed by an English sculptor by the name of Leonard Craske. His design was part of an artistic competition for Gloucester's 300th anniversary. In 1925, it was cast and placed along Stacy Esplanade.
The monument is dedicated to the more than 5,000 fishermen who lost their lives at sea since 1623 when Gloucester was first settled. Over the centuries, shipwrecks and drownings were all too common along stormy seas and the rocky Massachusetts coastline, and too many people died.
The statue depicts a fisherman clutching the wheel of his boat as if trying to steer through stormy seas. It looks out onto Gloucester Harbor as if to honor those who perished. It's quite a moving statue and a must-visit landmark in Gloucester that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Have you seen the Fisherman’s Memorial in Massachusetts? What did you think of it? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. You can visit the National Park Service website to learn more about the memorial.
