Washington, D.C.’s Top 10 : Memorials and Monuments – Top 10 Statues

1. Lincoln Memorial

   The
   majestic monument to the president who preserved America’s unity and
   began the long process of ending slavery is built in the form of a Greek
   temple. Daniel Chester French designed the enormous statue of a seated
   Abraham Lincoln in 1915, and it is among America’s most inspiring sites,
   especially for its association with African-Americans’ struggle for
   equality and opportunity .

   
   

   
   
   

   Lincoln Memorial

2. Washington Monument

   This
   spire is the dominant feature on the city skyline, 555 ft (170 m) high
   and gleaming in its marble cladding. One of the tallest freestanding
   masonry constructions in the world, built between 1848 and 1884, it
   offers stunning views from the observation platform .

3. Jefferson Memorial

   One
   of Jefferson’s favorite Classical designs, the Pantheon in Rome,
   inspired this graceful monument. Dedicated in 1943 on the 200th
   anniversary of Jefferson’s birth, it houses a 19-ft (6-m) bronze statue
   of the president by Rudolph Evans. It is especially enchanting when
   floodlit at night .

   
   

   
   
   

   Jefferson Memorial

4. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

   This
   popular memorial has four outdoor rooms, representing Roosevelt’s four
   terms as president. Each is a composition of statues, water, plants, and
   engraved quotations of the president. The memorial has provided a focus
   for activists for disabled citizens – Roosevelt was partially paralyzed by polio.

   
   

   
   
   

   Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial

5. Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial

   This
   simple structure – a V-shaped black granite wall on which are carved
   the names of those who died in this divisive war – has moved millions of
   visitors. The memorial, built in 1982, is the work of Maya Lin, at the
   time a 21-year-old architecture student at Yale .

6. Korean War Veterans Memorial

   Nineteen
   exhausted foot soldiers plod forward, determined on their goal. These
   7-ft (2-m) steel statues are the dominant element in a memorial to the
   Americans who died in the UN’s “police action” in Korea. A wall is
   etched with faces of actual soldiers. A circular pool invites quiet
   reflection .

7. Iwo Jima Statue (Marine Corps Memorial)

   Marines
   struggling to erect the Stars and Stripes on a ridge at Iwo Jima serves
   as a memorial to all marines who have fought for their country. The
   Pacific island saw fierce fighting, resulting in 7,000 American deaths,
   during World War II.

   • George Washington Parkway (I-66, exit 75), Arlington, VA

   • Free

   • Dis. access

   
   

   
   
   

   Iwo Jima Statue (Marine Corps Memorial)

8. World War II Memorial

   This
   7.5-acre memorial, built to honor US veteran soldiers and civilians of
   World War II, includes commemorative columns, a Freedom Wall,
   landscaping, and fountains.

   National Mall

   • Free

   • Dis. access

9. African-American Civil War Memorial

   “The Spirit of Freedom,” a 1996 sculpture by Ed Hamilton, depicts African-American Union soldiers facing the enemies.

   • U & Vermont Sts NW

   • Free

   • Dis. access

10. US Navy Memorial

    The
    fountains that surround this plaza contain recirculated water from all
    the seven seas. Flagstaffs suggest the rigging of a tall ship .

    
    

    
    
    

    US Navy Memorial

Top 10 Statues