Our Nation’s Capital: Memorials, Monuments and Landmarks

Kelly Wooten

The White House 1792George Washington selected the site for the White House in 1792 and supervised construction. President Washington was the only president who did not take residence in the mansion because the project was not completed until 1800. In 1814 the mansion was burned down by the British. The White House has a total of 132 rooms. Public rooms are located on the first floor. The president and his family occupies the second and third floors.

United States Capital 1792Construction for the United States Capital building began in 1792. The design for the building was modified several times. The Capital Building was completed in 1865- nearly 100 years after the project began. Congress meets and conducts business inside of this building. The Great Rotunda is 180 feet high and is one the most recognizable features of this famouslandmark. The Capital Building is also the home to many famouspieces of artwork.

Washington Monument 1848The Washington Monument was built to honor President George Washington. It is the tallest structure in the nation’s Capital and will remain the tallest due to a law. After George Washington’s death in 1797, a memorial was discussed but delayed. Constructionfor the monument began in 1848 and was not completed until 1884 due to a lack of funding. Stone from all 50 states was used to complete the 555 foot structure.

Arlington National Cemetery

1864Arlington National Cemetery is located on the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia. The cemetery is home to over 285,000 honored dead service members and their dependents. President John F. Kennedy is buried on the grounds and is grave is decorated with an eternalflame. The Tomb of theUnknown Solider is also on theCemetery grounds. This site isan important landmark in ournation’s history.

Lincoln Memorial

1914The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most impressive memorials in Washington D.C. The memorial is situated at the end of the Reflection Pool and faces the Washington Monument and State Capital Building. This Memorial was built to honor President Abraham Lincoln. Construction began in 1914. The memorial was completed in 1922 and was dedicated by President Warren G. Harding. It is modeled after the GreekParthenon and is made of marble, granite, and limestone.

Jefferson Memorial

1934Congress authorized the construction of the Jefferson Memorial in 1934. The building was completed and dedicated on April 13, 1943. The date of the dedication marked the 200 year anniversary of Jefferson’s birth. The design is based on the Roman Pantheon. The architect utilized some of Thomas Jefferson’s architectural preferences in hisDesign. The walls are inscribedwith some of Jefferson’s famous writings and the insideof the structure houses a 19foot bronze figure of Jefferson.

Iwo Jima Memorial

1951The Iwo Jima Memorial is also referred to as the Marine Corps War Memorial. It is one of the largest bronze statues ever cast. The statue itself stands 32 feet and holds a 60 foot flagpole that carries a cloth American flag 24 hours a day. The memorial is dedicated to all of the servicemen who have died inthe defense of our country since 1775. Work on the Iwo Jima Memorial began in 1951 and was dedicated byPresident Eisenhower on November 10, 1954.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

1982Congress authorized this memorial in 1980. Construction for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial began on March 26,1982 and was dedicated on November 23, 1982. This memorial was built to honor the men and women of the armed forces who served in the Vietnam War. A21 year old student from YaleUniversity designed thememorial. The black granite walls are etched with the names of over 58,000 veteranswho lost their lives in the war.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial:

1991Construction on the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial began in 1991. Construction was completed and the memorial was dedicated on May 2, 1997. President Roosevelt served four 4 year terms as president. The memorial traces 12 years of American History through 4 separate outdoor rooms. Each room symbolizes one ofPresident Roosevelt’s terms inoffice. The rooms contain 12bronze sculptures depicting President Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and events from theGreat Depression and WWII.

National World War II Memorial

1993The National World War II Memorial was authorized in 1993. Construction on the memorial was completed in 2004. The memorial is the size of a football field and features arches, pillars, a wall of stars, fountains, a pool, and many inscriptions. The memorial is dedicated to the 16 million American’s who served in WWII, the 400,000 soldiers who died inthe war, and to the millions that supported the war effortsfrom home. The memorial islocated in the National Mall.

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