Harvard Memorial Hall Copper Gargoyle Detail

A copper gargoyle, weathered to a green patina, adorns the Gothic Revival architecture of Harvard Memorial Hall in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Completed in 1878 and designed by Ware & Van Brunt, the hall serves as a memorial to Harvard alumni who died in the Civil War. The building's ornate brickwork and detailed stonework are characteristic of the collegiate Gothic style prevalent in American universities during the late 19th century. This particular gargoyle, a functional element for water drainage, also contributes to the building's elaborate decorative scheme.