Ten Impressive Memorials To Visit In Washington, D.C.

In 1790, a 100 square mile, diamond shaped parcel of land located along the Potomac River, controlled by the states of Maryland and Virginia was designated as the site for the permanent capital of the new United States of America by the Congress. George Washington believed that the land was well situated for future development since it was close to existing river ports at Alexandria and Georgetown and had ready access through navigable waters to the eastern seaboard and the important western territories. Nevertheless, few others felt that the new federal territory known as the District of Columbia consisting mostly of farmland and marshland would amount to much or be able to compete with existing centers of political power such as Williamsburg, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City.

More than two centuries later, Washington, D.C. has not only become one of the world's most important cities, but also a showplace for architecture, historic monuments, and government buildings that bring to life the words and deeds of America's greatest leaders and patriots. I first experienced the grandeur of the city and its monuments as a college intern working for a distinguished Senator on Capital Hill in the 1970s. A recent walk along the National Mall and the Tidal Basin, where most of the national memorials are located, showed me that these places still inspire thousands of people from around the world each day. They should not be missed by parents and children seeking to better understand the many accomplishments and continuing challenges of our nation. 

There are dozens of places in the city that could be considered landmarks, historic sites, or great museums. For a full day or half day introduction to the major Washington monuments, however, here are ten interesting ones to consider visiting along the National Mall or near the Tidal Basin which are open to the public for free and administered by the National Park Service: 

1. Memorial to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence -  This memorial is one of the least known landmarks in Washington, D.C., but in some ways its importance is unmatched.  The Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration is on a small island reached by a footbridge in the Constitution Gardens located between the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial.  It consists of a semicircular stone platform facing the water with the engraved names and backgrounds of the 56 people who signed the Declaration of Independence at the Continental Congress held in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.  They made an eloquent statement of the need for independence from the powerful English empire and raised important questions for future generations to consider as to the role of government and the right of individuals to participate in their own affairs. These 56 individuals were committing treason  against the crown by signing the document and placed the lives and property of their families and their own communities at risk. The engraved signatures of John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin are just two examples of the 56 plagues at the memorial commemorating the leading citizens who joined this rebellion. Others like Connecticut's Samuel Huntington are less well known but Huntington played an important role in the new American government formed after the Declaration by serving as a President of the Continental Congress for almost two years. My elementary school is named after Samuel Huntington and his grave site lies in a colonial cemetery near my house. This memorial is a peaceful site to visit along with the far grander and better known memorials of the city. 

2. Lincoln Memorial - The Lincoln Memorial is the most visited monument in Washington, D.C. In addition, it is one of the most visited places in the National Park System attracting approximately 7 million people annually. Completed in 1920, the rectangular monument has 36 columns representing the 36 states which existed at the time of Lincoln's assassination in 1865. Most visitors climb the marble steps and platforms on the east side of the building. Inside is a seated statue of a solemn Abraham Lincoln which looks out across the one third mile long reflecting pool. The statue is surrounded by walls carved with some of Lincoln's most famous remarks to the nation including portions of the Gettysburg Address. The grand building is reminiscent of an ancient Greek temple and has served as the location for important speeches and rallies over the past hundred years.

3.  World War II Memorial - Since its completion in 2004, the World War II Memorial located on seven acres of land at the east end of the reflecting pool has become a popular place for the families and friends of the "Greatest Generation". It commemorates the more than 400,000 Americans who died on battlefields around the world in winning that war. The center of the monument is a large pool and fountains known as the Rainbow Pool but many people are drawn to the 43 foot high arches and entrances at each end of the pool called The Atlantic and The Pacific. The former signifies the victory of the Allied Forces over the Axis powers in Europe and the later celebrates the victory in the Pacific over Japan. Throughout the monument there are carvings and bronze reliefs showing everything from the invasion at Normandy to the efforts of workers on the home front to the victory celebrations of troops and the people they liberated. In addition to scenes from the conflict, symbols of the various armed forces that participated  in the war effort are represented. 

4. John Paul Jones Memorial -  A few feet away from the World War II Memorial in the middle of a traffic circle leading to the Tidal Basin lies one of the Washington's lesser known monuments honoring a maritime hero of the Revolutionary War, John Paul Jones.  Jones commanded several warships of the fledgling American Navy and fought successful battles against the British Navy which was considered the finest in the world during the 18th and 19th centuries. Jones, who died at the age of 45, is depicted by a striking bronze statue mounted on a pedestal. The monument has an engraving of him raising the new American flag on his vessel and also memorializes his famous words to a British admiral: "Surrender. I have not yet begun to fight."

5. Jefferson Memorial - The inspiring words of Thomas Jefferson about the democratic rights of citizens to participate in self-government have influenced many nations and revolutionaries ever since he drafted most of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.  Centuries later those words, and a majestic 19 foot high bronze standing statue of Jefferson, lie at the center of the famous Jefferson Memorial finished in 1943 on the banks of the Tidal Basin that abuts the Potomac River.  With a domed roof and supporting columns, the Memorial is seen by tens of thousands of drivers every day commuting into downtown Washington. More important, the walking paths and hundreds of Japanese cherry trees along the shoreline of the Tidal Basin make it one of the most popular places in the city to relax and take pictures. 

6. Vietnam Veterans Memorial - The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was created by an act of Congress in 1980 in response to efforts by a non-profit organization to recognize the American soldiers who fought in this long and controversial war in southeast Asia. Completed in 1984, the memorial includes a 250 foot long, black granite, angled wall engraved with the full names of the 58,267 service people that died as a result of the conflict. It also features a recessed walkway and a bronze statue of three "Faces of Honor' representing servicemen in the field. While initial opinions of the memorial were mixed, the memorial is now beloved by millions of people for the way in which it personalized the lives and deaths of that conflict. Friends and families regularly visit the memorial to take rubbings of the names, leave notes, and remember their loved ones. People of all ages visiting the memorial will remember the experience. 

7. Korean War Memorial - The Korean War is often referred to as the forgotten war even though an estimated 43,774 American soldiers and Korean support forces died there as part of an United Nations force that repelled the North Korean army and Chinese "volunteers" from overrunning South Korea from 1950 to 1953. Tensions remain high on the Korean peninsula 70 years later notwithstanding the execution of an Armistice Agreement for the Restoration of the South Korean State on July 27, 1953 establishing a boundary and a demilitarized zone.  When the memorial was dedicated in 1995, it included an unique 164 foot long mural wall with 41 panels showing more than 2000 computer enhanced photographs of the Korean War obtained from the National Archives. These photographs have been etched into granite and lighted in such a way as to bring to life the experiences of the Army, Air Force and Navy personnel who fought there. A second part of the memorial is a wall of remembrance with the names of the military personnel who lost their lives in the war. Additional information is available in a kiosk where park rangers assist visitors to find out more about individual soldiers who served. The starkest part of the memorial is a triangular lawn with 7 foot high steel statues of 19 armed soldiers. They are depicted as marching across the rice paddies of Korea covered by cold weather ponchos. 

8. Ulysses S. Grant Memorial - Several miles to the east of the Lincoln Memorial at the base of  Capitol Hill lies an impressive memorial to Civil War General and Former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant which was dedicated in 1922. This 100 year old memorial was erected on a 71 foot long terrace that includes a bronze statue of Grant mounted on his horse at the top of a high platform with the capital dome visible behind him. He is shown at war with a cast bronze statue of Union artillery soldiers on one side and a statue of a Union cavalry group on the other. Grant and his troops are not shown celebrating a victory. Instead, they are depicted fighting through the toil and struggle of one of the many bloody battles that Grant fought to help win the Civil War. Grant faced an incredibly difficult task serving as President from March 1869 to March 1877. He was tasked with trying to reunite the divided nation,  handle the rapid expansion of the country to the west, and control the estimated 4 million decommissioned soldiers that had fought in the war.  While his record has been criticized by some historians, recent appraisals of his leadership during the war and as President have shown greater appreciation for his important accomplishments. This memorial is worth viewing and pondering by visitors. 

9. Washington Monument - In one respect, the Washington Monument is the grandest of all of the city's landmarks and memorials. Visible from every direction, the obelisk rises 555 feet above the middle of the National Mall and is the tallest stone structure in the world. Obelisks were common in ancient Egypt and later rulers like Roman Emperor Augustus and French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte dragged smaller obelisks back to their capitals as symbols of power and historical importance. There is no indication that George Washington ever wanted to be remembered with an obelisk. Nevertheless, architect Robert Mills designed a monumental obelisk in the Egyptian style to honor his legacy as the first President and Commander of  Revolutionary War army. Construction began around July 4, 1848 and was interrupted on several occasions because of lack of funds and the Civil War. The monument was finally completed in 1888 using several different kinds of stone from multiple quarries and topped off  with an aluminum capstone. While the staircase is rarely used today, access to the top is available to ticketed visitors for no charge by elevator.  The view is spectacular for those able to include it in their itinerary.

10.  Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial - In 1983, President Reagan signed a congressional bill establishing a national holiday in 1986 honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, for his important work in the civil rights movement.  Not long afterwards, an effort began to erect a monument in Washington honoring his legacy of advocating for human rights, justice, and freedom. In 2011, a memorial was erected on a four acre site along the western bank of the Tidal Basin. The location is close to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.  The entrance passes between two large boulders designed to represent the "Mountain of Despair" described in his speech. On the other side is a 30 foot carved statue of Dr. King with his arms crossed and a speech in his hands emerging from a huge stone which represents a "Stone of Hope" for future generations.  Another portion of the memorial is a 450 foot long wall with selected quotes from his speeches and writings on topics like democracy, justice, love and hope.