|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2011 Robin McClain, Destination DC
Washington DC Monuments & Memorials Washington, DC’s unforgettable skyline is marked by some of the world’s most celebrated monuments. The fantastic temples, structures and statues that grace the green expanses of the National Mall tell fascinating stories through their history and design. Here is some background information on the city’s most famous sights.
The National Mall: Visiting “the Mall” is a must-do for any first-time visitor. Encompassing a two-mile swath of land from the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial, this is the Washington you see in movies and in history books. In addition to perfect photo-ops for both the Lincoln and Capitol, you’ll also find several of the Smithsonian museums (including the Smithsonian Castle, a great place to start your morning and map out your sightseeing itinerary), the National Archives, National Gallery of Art and the U.S. Botanic Gardens. The National Mall has been the site of many famous festivals and protests, as well as home to a stunning fireworks display every Fourth of July. New! Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial: Officially dedicated on Oct. 16, 2011, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial takes its rightful place among America’s forefathers. The memorial shares a direct line of sight with the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and is the first national memorial to honor a non-president and a man of color. The memorial was designed as a lasting tribute to Dr. King’s legacy and will forever serve as a monument to the freedom, opportunity and justice for which he stood. The centerpiece of the memorial is a 30-foot statue of the famous civil rights leader carved from the “Stone of Hope.” A crescent-shaped stone wall features a number of engraved quotations from his sermons and public addresses. Thomas Jefferson Memorial: With a memorable form reminiscent of the famous Pantheon in Italy, the memorial to the third president took only nine years to complete and was dedicated in 1943. Architect John Russell Pope incorporated one of Jefferson’s favorite design elements, the rotunda, into the memorial design. Jefferson stands proudly at 19 feet tall under the rotunda surrounded by engraved passages from the Declaration of Independence and other famous works by Jefferson. Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Often referred to as the “Wall,” the Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors the American soldiers who were killed during the war, were prisoners of war, and who remain missing in action. More than 58,000 names are etched into the V-shaped black granite wall. Visitors are encouraged to make rubbings of names, using graphite pencils and commemorative paper supplied by park rangers. The names are listed in chronological order from 1959 to 1975, and are listed alphabetically on each day of action. Beside each name, a symbol denotes the status of the soldier: diamonds mark those who were killed in action, crosses denote those who are missing or classified as prisoners of war. Look for the Three Servicemen statue nearby. Vietnam Women’s Memorial: In 1984, two years after the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial was founded so that a tribute to the 265,000 servicewomen and field hospital nurses could complement the new memorial. Dedicated in 1993, the statue parallels the Three Servicemen statue at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Women’s Memorial depicts three field-hospital nurses caring for wounded soldiers. Eight yellowwood trees surround the statue in tribute to the eight women who were killed in action during the war. National World War II Memorial: One of Washington, DC’s newest memorials, the National World War II Memorial pays tribute to the 16 million Americans who served in uniform, the more than 400,000 who lost their lives, and the millions more who sacrificed on the home front. Dedicated in 2004, it features two 43-foot arches, a 17-foot pillar for each state and territory from that era, and a field of more than 4,000 gold stars, one in honor of each American killed in the war. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial: The FDR Memorial consists of four “rooms” arranged chronologically to represent the 32nd president’s unprecedented four terms in office. Spanning 7 ½ acres, the memorial defies FDR’s request for a modest tribute; he asked that the memorial not be any larger than his desk. Acknowledging FDR’s own physical difficulties, his memorial was the first Washington, DC memorial to be totally wheelchair accessible. Dedicated in 1997, the memorial, however, did not originally feature any renderings of the president in his wheelchair. FDR did not wish to be portrayed in his wheelchair, and designers honored this request. In 2001, in response to petitions from people with and without disabilities, a statue of FDR in his wheelchair was placed at the entrance of the memorial. The memorial also includes a statue of Eleanor Roosevelt—the only monumental tribute to a first lady—standing in front of the United Nations emblem, recognizing her role in the creation of that organization, as well as a small statue of the beloved First Dog, Fala. Korean War Veterans Memorial: Dedicated in 1995 on the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the war, the Korean War Veterans Memorial features a polished wall engraved with the faces of 25,000 soldiers, nurses, chaplains, and even a dog, honoring those who served. The 164-foot mural is also engraved with the words “Freedom is Not Free." A bronze sculpture group of platoon soldiers inching through a field forms the focal point of the memorial. Sculptor Frank Gaylord created the 19 statues of the soldiers, whose moving, weary expressions reflect the harsh circumstances of the war. The polished granite wall reflects the images of the soldiers and doubles the platoon’s size to 38— a metaphor for the 38th parallel, the border between North and South Korea. Theodore Roosevelt Memorial and Island: Theodore Roosevelt’s deep love of nature and strong commitment to conservation are reflected throughout the 88-acre island, where 2.5 miles of hiking trails pass through dense forests and marshy swamps. The centerpiece of the island, a memorial to the President, was dedicated in 1967. The memorial features a 17-foot statue of Roosevelt, situated in an oval terrace with two roaring fountains. The terrace is surrounded by four granite tablets inscribed with the President’s philosophy on nature, manhood, youth and the state. The island is perfect for a picnic in the warmer months. U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima): Located across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial is home to one of the most celebrated patriotic sculptures in which five soldiers and one Navy corpsman raise a 60-foot bronze flag pole and cloth flag at Iwo Jima. The 32-foot tall statue is modeled after a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal. The three survivors of the battle posed for the sculptor, who recreated the expressions of the deceased soldiers from photographs. Dedicated in 1954, the memorial, which commemorates all marines who have died in battle since 1775, is one of the largest bronze statues ever to be cast. Arlington National Cemetery: More than 285,000 honored soldiers and distinguished citizens have been laid to rest here at the nation’s most treasured burial ground. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and President Kennedy’s eternal flame make their home at the National Cemetery, as well as daily Changing of the Guard ceremonies. While numerous wreath-laying and other memorial ceremonies are conducted throughout the country, many consider the services at Arlington's Memorial Amphitheater to be the nation's official ceremonies to honor servicemen and women. The Arlington National Cemetery is also home to a number of additional memorials, including the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial, Battle of the Bulge Memorial and a Nurses Memorial. U.S. Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage: DC’s city designer, Pierre L’Enfant, included a Navy Memorial in his original plans for the city, but the Memorial is fairly new, having just opened in 1987. The memorial is an amphitheater-like construction featuring a 100-foot, 108-ton granite map—the largest in the world. The map is framed by two sculpture walls with 22 bronze reliefs that honor aspects of naval service. A seven-foot tall bronze statue entitled “Lone Soldier” stands at the entrance to the U.S. Navy Memorial, representing all past, present and future Navy servicemen and women. African-American Civil War Memorial: One of DC’s most historic African-American neighborhoods is home to one of the nation’s few tributes to the African-American veterans of the Civil War. The memorial includes a granite-paved plaza encircled by walls that bear the names of the 209,145 men who served in the United States Troops of Color during the war. At the center of the plaza, a 10-foot statue bears the likenesses of uniformed black soldiers and a sailor ready to leave home. Women, children and senior citizens huddle on the inner surface. United States Air Force Memorial: The memorial, scaled for visibility over street infrastructure, stands 270 feet tall and “flies” toward the sky in an ode to those in the Air Force. The three stainless steel spires evoke images of the “Bomb Burst” maneuver performed by the United States Air Force Thunderbird Demonstration Team, and represent the three core values of the Air Force: Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all that is done. Pentagon Memorial: The Pentagon Memorial is designed as a reminder to the nation of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. To honor the 184 victims who died in the Pentagon that day, as well as on American Airlines Flight 77, 184 illuminated benches are arranged according to the victims’ ages. The memorial is free and open to the public seven days a week. ### |
Media Contacts
For local, business and meetings/conventions media:
Robin McClain, Director of Communications
202) 789-7099
[email protected]
For local and domestic consumer media:
Kate Gibbs, Media Relations Manager
202) 789-7072
[email protected]
For international and travel trade media inquiries:
Alicia Malone, International Media Relations Manager
(202) 789-7053
[email protected]
202-789-7000 FAX 202-789-7037
