This summer, the Great Elephant Migration hit Boston. This herd of elephants made their way down the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Boston’s Back Bay in August and September 2026. The group of over 100 life-size elephant sculptures descended on the city as part of the mobile exhibit. The Coexistence Collective, a group of more than 200 artisans from the Nilgiri Hills of southern India, designed them. Before stampeding through Boston, since 2024, the elephants have made their way through other cities and towns, including Newport, Rhode Island, New York City, and Los Angeles.
Each elephant that is displayed is up for sale. In total, the group, Elephant Family USA, has raised over one million dollars to be used for conservation efforts. The group is targeting a ten-million-dollar campaign to help the plight of the elephants and human-environment interaction. The elephant sculptures are made from Lantana Camara, which is a weed that is invasive and swiftly taking over the protected forests of India.
Elephants take over Boston
For the six-week takeover of the city of Boston, the elephants were mainly centered around the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in the Back Bay. For a few city blocks, from Clarendon to Fairfield Streets, these elephants paraded proudly. The crowds that were drawn to this exhibit were massive. I mean, how often is an elephant herd seen marching down an urban greenspace?
The message behind the campaign is praiseworthy. For children, though, including my own, they simply loved seeing these large-as-life elephants taking over the urban oasis. Block after block, my kids analyzed the height and names of each elephant. On a Monday in August, we certainly were not the only ones there. The elephants were swarmed by onlookers enjoying the spectacle. When I was driving by them late one evening, the elephants still drew quite a crowd. Each elephant bears the name of an actual elephant roaming the wild in Southern India. The next destination of the herd is Livermore, California, in October and November of this year.
Stampeding through Boston
In addition to elephant gazing, our crew spent a fun afternoon in the city. Riding the Swan Boats was a hit for all of the kids. During our last Swan Boat ride, only the oldest and youngest were present. We then tooled around the Boston Public Garden for a bit before venturing to see the elephants.
For lunch, we opted for a tried-and-true Beacon Hill brunch classic, the Paramount. I went with the Mediterranean omelette while others had pancakes, French toast, and other dishes. We returned to the Boston Common with a romp on the playground before heading home. All in all, the kids stampeded through the Back Bay along with the Great Migration of elephants. With brunch at the Paramount and a stop at the Tadpole Playground, it all made for an excellent day in Boston.
