DC War Memorial: Cultural Landscape Inventory, National Mall & Memorial Parks - West Potomac Park, National Park Service

Donaldson, Emily

The District of Columbia War Memorial site encompasses about 2 acres located in West Potomac Park, on axis with 19th St. between the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and Independence Ave., in the SW quadrant of Washington, DC. The southern edge of the property is bordered by the sidewalk along Independence Avenue, while the northern edge is marked by a service drive known as Ash Rd. Surrounding the memorial building are two rings of flagstone pavement, an inner 8-foot wide historic walk and a 12-foot wide outer ring. The property has belonged to the government since it was created from river marsh in the final two decades of the 19th century, and in 1933 passed from the jurisdiction of the War Department’s Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks to the NPS. Authorized by Congress in 1924, the memorial was built in 1931 to honor the more than 26,000 Washington residents who served in WWI. A circular, open-air structure with Doric styling, it was designed by architect Frederick H. Brooke and associated architects Nathan C. Wyeth and Horace W. Peaslee. A dedication ceremony on November 11, 1931 featured a speech by President Herbert Hoover and a performance by the U.S. Marine Band, led by the Washington, DC native John Philip Sousa. Although the property upon which it is located has always been federally owned, the memorial was installed using funds raised through public subscription. At the time of the memorial’s construction in 1931, it stood among a grove of willow trees. These were soon replaced by hardwoods, some of which were memorials themselves, and many of which can still be seen at the site today. Though popular use of the site waned in the late 1950s and it exhibits some weather-associated wear, the memorial and surrounding cultural landscape have remained in fairly good condition throughout their existence. The DC War Memorial is significant for its artistic and commemorative value as a monument honoring those District of Columbia residents who served in World War I. The historic period of significance is 1931 to 1939, lasting from the year of construction to the date that a large-scale rehabilitation of the site began. This falls within the period of significance identified for East and West Potomac Parks by the National Register of Historic Places, which is 1882 to 1997. As an early monument erected in West Potomac Park, it contributes to the East and West Potomac Parks Historic District based on National Register Criterion A, in the areas of art and commemoration. Furthermore, despite the fact that its intent is primarily commemorative, as outlined by Criteria Consideration F the design, age, tradition and symbolic value of the property give it a unique historical significance. As a part of the East and West Potomac Parks Historic District, the memorial has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since November 30, 1973, with a 2001 revision. Today, the cultural landscape is in fair condition and retains a high level of integrity to its historic period of significance. The site is primarily composed of the monument and its surrounding designed landscape to an approximately 200-foot radius. Although almost fifty years have passed since its heyday of weekly summer band concerts, it is easy to envision the events of the 1930s being held here. Alterations made to the original vegetation in 1939 are not permanent, due to its federal ownership the land has remained largely unchanged since then. The circulation of the site has been changed only slightly, while the monument and walkways have undergone occasional maintenance. The viewshed looking north from the memorial to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, briefly interrupted from 1942 through 1964 by temporary World War II buildings, has now been fully restored.

DC War Memorial: Cultural Landscape Inventory, National Mall & Memorial Parks - West Potomac Park, National Park Service

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