Rosslyn in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Something More Than A Statue
US Marine Corps War Memorial, George Washington Memorial Parkway
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 2, 2019
1. "I Tried to Create Something More than a Statue" Marker
"I tried to create Something More than a Statue"
—Felix de Weldon, 1945
10 November 1954
Sculptor
Felix de Weldon (1907-2003)
Made of:
Bronze
Black granite from Sweden
Height
78 feet | 23.8 m
Cost (1954)
$850,000
Paid for by
individual Marines
and friends of the Corps
Before World War II, there were no national memorials honoring American veterans. This was the first. Felix de Weldon was working for the Navy when he first saw the flag-raising photo. Powerfully inspired, he started work. He created his first small statue in only 48 hours. He then secured approval from the Corps and Congress to make something grander.
He hoped for monumental art that could "encompass the valiant spirit of our fighting men and thrill the heart of the Nation."
(Captions)
Dedication Day
10 Nov 1954
De Weldon worked on this project for nine years
The statue you see here is 64 times larger than Weldon's first mockup.
Three Marines who survived Iwo Jima posed for the artist with their combat gear.
Erected by
this page online
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Military • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is November 10, 1954.
Location. 38° 53.463′ N, 77° 4.245′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Rosslyn. Memorial is on US Marine Memorial Circle north of North Marshall Drive, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1495 North Meade Street, Arlington VA 22209, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Legacy Older than the Republic (here, next to this marker); Here We Remember Them All (within shouting distance of this marker); And How Will You Remember Them? (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Marine Corps War Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Marines' Fiercest Fighting of World War II (about 300 feet away); A Split Second Made Immortal (about 300 feet away); Missions Critical (about 400 feet away); Battle Honors Unending (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Also see . . . History of the Marine Corps War Memorial.
Photographed By Wikipedia
3. The Marine Corps War Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 204 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 2, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on February 4, 2019. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
