Mary Dyer Statue

Mary Dyer was a Quaker who fought for religious freedom. In 1660 these beliefs were considered a crime, and she was persecuted for practicing Quakerism and eventually hanged for it. Mary Dyer’s Martyr’s Death had a significant influence on the legalization of religious freedom and the Constitution’s Bill of Rights.
 
The statue near the Massachusetts State House entrance, not far from where she was executed, depicts her sitting quietly on a bench wearing Quaker clothes. The bronze sculpture, created by Sylvia Shaw Judson, portrays Mary Dyer’s qualities of courage, compassion, and peace. It was dedicated on July 9th, 1959.
 
A replica of this statue is located at the Friends Center entrance, a hub for Quaker activity in Philadelphia and around the world.