The National Mall in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
District of Columbia War Memorial
National Mall and Memorial Parks
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 27, 2014
1. District of Columbia War Memorial Marker
This temple will recall for all time their services and sacrifices.
President Herbert Hoover, November 11, 1931
The Great War of 1914 to 1918 transformed the world. The war introduced lethal new technologies, inaugurated unparalleled battlefield slaughter, fostered mass genocide, took nine million lives, unleashed historys worst epidemic, swept away four empires and redrew international boundaries. The United States participated in just the last year of World War One but lost over 125,000 men and women to combat, wounds and disease.
Donations from Washington, D.C. residents funded the design, construction and deduction of this tribute to over 26,000 Washingtonians that served in the Great War. In a manner atypical for that era, the names of the nearly 500 that died appear on this memorial in alphabetical order, regardless of rank, race, gender or ethnicity. On Armistice Day 1931, native residents such as famed band director John Philip Sousa joined with temporary residents such as President Herbert Hoover and General of the Armies John J. Pershing to dedicate what then was known as the District of Columbia World War Memorial.
[Caption:]
Throughout 2011, the National Park Service restored the memorial and rehabilitated the adjacent landscape
this page online
Erected 2013 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #31 Herbert Hoover series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 11, 1760.
Location. 38° 53.225′ N, 77° 2.621′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The National Mall. It is on Independence Avenue Southwest west of 17th Street Southwest, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washington DC 20006, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker and memorial is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named District of Columbia War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Visit the New US Park Police Horse Stables & Education Center (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Home for Horses (about 500 feet away); The First Japanese Cherry Trees (about 600 feet away); A Symbol of International Friendship
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 26, 2022
2. District of Columbia War Memorial
The marker has weathered but remains readable.
Other markers no longer nearby. District of Columbia World War Memorial (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); Japanese Pagoda (was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed); The 1912 Cherry Tree Plantings (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Japanese Stone Lantern (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Lighting the Way (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker.
Photo caption, lower left:
Background image of the memorial dedication,
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 27, 2014
3. District of Columbia War Memorial Marker
This is the view from the sidewalk off Independance Avenue.
Photo caption, upper right:
National Park Service Photo
Throughout 2011, the National Park Service restored the memorial and rehabilitated the adjacent landscape to reflect the 1930s period of significance. The project also featured replacement of the lighting system and fabrication of a reproduction bronze lid (above), missing from the chamber floor since the 1980s.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This maker has replaced the linked marker.
Also see . . . Frank W. Buckles: last living American veteran of World War I [born 1 Feb 1901 - died 27 Feb 2011]. - a leader in the cause of transforming the present "District of Columbia War Memorial" into the official "U.S. National World War I Memorial." (Submitted on August 27, 2014, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
Additional keywords. Formerly: the "District of Columbia World War Memorial." Frank Woodruff Buckles - the last of the "Doughboys"
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 27, 2014
4. Bronze lid on the chamber floor
This is the reproduced bronze lid on the chamber floor in the District of Columbia War Memorial as mentioned in the marker.
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, August 6, 2014
5. District of Columbia War Memorial at night
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2014, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,104 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 27, 2014, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2. submitted on November 27, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on August 27, 2014, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 5. submitted on August 31, 2014, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • William J. Toman was the editor who published this page.
