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Town Parks & Monuments

Monument Park and Hingham Town Landing

Whitney Wharf Park, -99, 53 Summer St, Hingham, MA 02043, USA

Town of Hingham: (781) 741-1400

Owned By: Town of Hingham

Monument Park is a small town-owned property situated on and beside Whitney Wharf in Hingham Harbor. One side features a grassy drumlin hill, a recently-updated (2023) launch ramp for boats, a dredged basin for moorings, and a 0.1-mile walkway along the shore. The other side features the POW-MIA Veteran’s Park, with a crushed stone walking path, benches, and stunning views. In between are the Hingham Town Landing, Bare Cove Marina, and a pedestrian bridge. Swimming is prohibited here, but is permitted next door, at Bathing Beach.

FISHING ADVISORY: It’s important to know that some of our fisheries are contaminated with mercury, PFAS and/or other concerning substances. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an online database with up-to-date advisories regarding fish consumption, sorted by location. We recommend you consult this valuable resource when planning a fishing excursion.

Features

The park takes its name from the “Victory” statue, also known locally as “the Iron Horse,”  located atop the drumlin hill. Made of bronze, not iron, it was created in 1929 by artist Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson and her daughter, also Theo. It honors Hingham residents who served in the Armed Forces.

Whitney Wharf served the commercial shipping industry for many years. More recently a car dealership and a Mobil gas station, the land here was acquired by the town in 1989 and 2009, partially with Community Preservation funds.

Interpretive signage on site offers information about Hingham’s lumber trade, its steamboat wharves, and the history of the downtown area.

This land is within the region of the Massachusett (or Massachuseuk). To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag and the Mattakeeset band of the Massachusett share information on their websites.

Trail Description

On one side, a 0.1-mile paved walkway extends along the shore. On the other side, a wide, 0.1-mile crushed stone walkway with guard rails extends around the perimeter of the veterans park. Both overlook Hingham Harbor. In between there is a pedestrian bridge. There is an additional, even shorter trail, on the far side of the veterans park that leads to a bench with a view of the harbor.

Habitats and Wildlife

Grassy park located directly on Hingham’s Inner Harbor.

  • A photograph of a green park beside a harbor with a statue of a person on a horse, plus scattered trees.
  • A photograph of a memorial on a grassy hill with three American flags.
  • A photograph of a channel beside a green park, with a pedestrian bridge in the distance.
  • A photograph of a memorial park with several flagpoles and a large anchor.
  • A photograph of a flagpole and a memorial stone within a grassy waterfront park.
  • A photograph of two benches within a park with scattered trees.
  • A photograph of a green waterfront park with scattered trees.
  • A photograph of an interpretive sign in a grassy waterfront park.
  • A photograph of a wide wooden pedestrian walkway beside a harbor.
  • A photograph of a brick memorial within a park.
  • A photograph of a wooden pedestrian walkway across a channel.
  • A photograph of a boardwalk to a town landing on a harbor.
  • A photograph of a boat launch area with property rules signs.
  • A photograph of a paved boat launch area on a harbor.
  • A photograph of a walkway leading to a harbor.
  • A photograph of a walkway alongside a harbor.
Whitney Wharf Park, -99, 53 Summer St, Hingham, MA 02043, USA

Historic Site: Yes

Park: Yes

Beach: No

Boat Launch: Yes

Lifeguards: No

Size: 5.8 acres

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Parking: Two parking spaces directly adjacent to the veterans park. Additional, more ample, parking in the park's center, at Hingham Town Landing (2-hour maximum for non-recreational vehicles). Longer-term parking at Bathing Beach, next door.

Cost: Free

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Facilities:

Boat launch ramp, numerous benches, trash receptacles, interpretive signage, flagpole, memorials. Pedestrian bridge.

Dogs: Dogs are not permitted on the waterfront from June to September.

Boat Ramp: Yes

ADA Access: Yes

Scenic Views: Yes

Waterbody/Watershed: Hingham Harbor (Hingham Bay)

Other Things to Do at This Site

Boating
Fishing
Historical Sites
Nature Photography
Paddling
Paved Trails