Adams Memorial

memorial, Washington, D.C.

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July 17, 2026

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The Adams Memorial, located in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C., is a memorial to Marian Adams, wife of historian Henry Adams. Marian Adams, known as Clover, was a witty social figure and accomplished photographer. After her death by suicide in 1885, Henry Adams commissioned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to create a memorial. The resulting bronze sculpture, often called Grief but officially titled The Mystery of the Hereafter, is considered a masterpiece and draws many visitors. It is one of many monuments and sculptures that adorn Washington, D.C., honoring historical figures and events.12

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Washington, D.C.
Monuments and memorials
…the most striking being the Adams Memorial (1886–91), with a shrouded bronze figure designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and commissioned by historian Henry Adams (the great-grandson of John Adams), in memory of his wife, Marian. Saint-Gaudens called the sculpture The Mystery of the Hereafter, but it is often mistakenly called “Grief.”…
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…the most striking being the Adams Memorial (1886–91), with a shrouded bronze figure designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and commissioned by historian Henry Adams (the great-grandson of John Adams), in memory of his wife, Marian. Saint-Gaudens called the sculpture The Mystery of the Hereafter, but it is often mistakenly called “Grief.”…
Read More