The Martin Luther King Memorial honors the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. The statue of King is known as the “Stone of Hope”, taken from a line in his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. It is one of the few non-presidential memorials and the first African-American to be honored within or near the National Mall.
The National World War II Memorial honors the soldiers who fought during the second World War. It also remembers the contributions of the civilians who aided the war effort. The memorial consists of 56 columns, standing for the 48 states and various territories under the US at the time of the war. The columns are flanked by two triumphal arches. These structures surround a square and fountain that can be accessed by the public.
Located in the centre of the Columbus Circle, the Columbus Fountain was built in 1912 as a tribute to Christopher Columbus, who discovered the Americas in the 15th century.
The Titanic Memorial was opened in 1931 to honor the victims of the Titanic tragedy that saw as many 1,500 people lose their lives. The memorial especially honors those who sacrificed their lives to save others. The statue was erected by the Women’s Titanic Memorial Association.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors the sacrifice of the men and women who served during the Vietnam War. Located in Constitution Garden, the memorial comprises primarily a memorial wall, the Three Soldiers statue and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial.
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial honors the legacy of the 32nd President of the US, who oversaw the American effort during World War II. This monument of Washington DC is amongst the pioneers to giving access to disabled people with various needs.
The 44ft high white marble Peace Monument stands tall on the grounds of the United States Capitol. Also known as the Naval Monument or Civil War Sailors Monument, it was established between 1877 and 1878 to commemorate the lives lost at sea during the American Civil War.
The tallest obelisk in the world, it is impossible to miss the towering Washington Monument if you’re visiting the DC area. Standing tall at 555 ft, the monument honors the legacy of George Washington and his contribution to the American nation.
The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most visited memorials of Washington DC. Designed like a neoclassical temple, it pays tribute to the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the US, who is credited with abolishing slavery and moderinixing the US economy.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial honors the soldiers who fought during the Korean War of the 1950’s. The main components of the memorial include a mural wall, the column, a United Nations wall and a Pool of Remembrance. The design of the Mural Wall consists of two granite walls intersecting a circle at the end. It contains around 2500 images of the American service personnel photographed during the war, with these images being sandblasted into the granite.
The Jefferson Memorial honors Thomas Jefferson,one of the Founding Fathers of America and the author of the United States Declaration of Independence.
So if you are visiting DC, head to these 11 historic monuments in Washington DC to be amazed by their architecture and the stories behind them that redefined American history.
This post was published by Peter Nikhil David
Cover image source