East Potomac Park in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Forgotten Founder
National Mall and Memorial Parks, George Mason Memorial
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
"All men are born equally free and independent. And have certain inherent natural rights... among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety."
Virginia Declaration of Rights, June 1776
This quote is inscribed next to the statue of George Mason
In front of you a statue of George Mason holds a book by Cicero, a Roman politician and orator. Mason used ideas from Cicero and others to write the Virginia Declaration of Rights in May of 1776, the first document to protect individual rights in the United States. The document served as inspiration for the Declaration of Independence written weeks later. When Mason's ideas for protecting individual rights were unanimously rejected at the 1787 Constitutional Convention he campaigned against the Constitution's passage. However, Mason's ideas lived on. James Madison borrowed heavily from Mason to write the Bill of Rights, securing American individual liberties for over 220 years.
The George Mason Memorial will be closed to the public from September 2017 to fall of 2018 for restoration and repair of the fountains.
Funded by the National Park Service Centennial Challenge with a match by the Trust for the National Mall.
this page online
Erected 2017 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #04 James Madison series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1776.
Location. 38° 52.797′ N, 77° 2.376′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in East Potomac Park. Marker is at the intersection of East Basin Drive Southwest and Ohio Drive Southwest, on the left when traveling west on East Basin Drive Southwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 900 Ohio Drive Southwest, Washington DC 20242, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. George Mason (a few steps from this marker); River Bottom to Parkland (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cuban Friendship Urn (about 600 feet away); Yoshino (about 800 feet away); The Gift of Friendship (approx. 0.2 miles away); Thomas Jefferson Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Air Mail (approx. ¼ mile away); The United Nations (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southwest Washington.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
portrait by Dominic W. Boudet after John Hesselius (courtesy Gunston Hall Board of Regents), 1811
3. George Mason IV
1811 portrait by Dominic W. Boudet after John Hesselius.Close-up of image on marker
Photographed By Howard Chandler Christy (via Wikipedia), 1940
4. Scene of the Signing of the Constitution of the United States, Howard Chandler Christy
George Mason was present at the signing of the Constitution but was left off of this painting because he did not sign the document.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 29, 2019
5. George Mason Memorial
Board of Regents of Gunston Hall Plantation, Mason Neck, Virginia
The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
Dedicated by:
William H. Rehnquist
Chief Justice of the United States
April 9, 2002
Memorial Design Rhodeside & Harwell, Incorporated
Sculptor Wendy M. Ross
Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 492 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 18, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on May 30, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on June 1, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
