• Date: January 22, 2012
• Author: Ellen Small Billard
• 6 Comments

Last week, we posted Part One of our top ten recommendations of Washington, D.C.’s best monuments and memorials to help you better plan and prepare for your trip to America’s capital. The memorials are one of the highlights of any visit to Washington, D.C., but because there are so many, if you don’t plan your trip carefully, you could miss out.

Here are the rest of our recommendations!

5.) Korean War Veterans Memorial

If the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is one of the most moving, the Korean War Veterans Memorial is perhaps the most haunting. With its guiding inscription “Freedom is not free” and field of nineteen stainless steel statues representing soldiers during the war, this memorial is quite sobering. The faces on the soldiers depict the horror, trauma, pain, discomfort, and confusion of those engulfed in the horrors of war. These faces are so detailed, they cause you to both connect and reflect on the reality of war. The granite slabs and sporadic trees are meant to emphasize the difficult terrain in which the men had to fight, while the rain coats show the challenging weather conditions prevalent throughout the war. I always leave this memorial feeling weighed down by the human cost of war.

4.) Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

This memorial was just opened in Fall 2011 and commemorates the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. All I can say is, it’s about time America. For more information on this memorial, please see Monday’s post.

3.) Jefferson Memorial

It may have taken me a good twenty years to finally make it over to the Jefferson Memorial, but it was certainly worth the wait. Modeled in the style of Rome’s Pantheon, this memorial sits across the Tidal Basin along the Potomac River. This neoclassical style was originally introduced in America by Thomas Jefferson himself. The design architect John Russell Pope attempted to commemorate Jefferson’s role as a statesman, architect, President, and drafter of the Declaration of Independence, among other roles. Inside the structure stands a 19-foot-tall bronze statue of Jefferson. Along the interior walls of the memorial are five quotes from Jefferson that represent his life and political ideals. Before you leave the memorial, take twenty minutes to visit the small museum below.

2.) FDR Memorial

Nestled along the Tidal Basin between the new MLK, Jr. Memorial and the majestic Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial is more expansive than others, but perhaps that’s fitting for America’s longest-serving president. Roosevelt served 12 years in office and was elected for four terms. The memorial is organized into four separate “rooms,” one for each of the four terms Roosevelt was elected. The rooms focus around a particular social issue or major world event happening during that particular term.The main themes include the Great Depression and World War II, two events that defined Roosevelt’s presidency.

The memorial includes waterfalls, statues, and quotes enscribed into red granite walls, each symbolizing a particular aspect of Roosevelt’s presidency or his character. My favorite part of the memorial is the urban breadline, a statue depicting a line of men waiting for food assistance during the Great Depression. Another key statue is of a man next to a radio listening intently to one of Roosevelt’s famous “fireside chats.” Five bronze pillars also depict the social issues addressed through Roosevelt’s famous “New Deal” to lift the nation out of the Great Depression.

Start your visit from Room One, near the Visitor’s Center, and closest to the MLK Memorial, rather than the Jefferson. This will allow you to experience Roosevelt’s presidency in chronological order. The first stop in the memorial is a statue of Roosevelt in his wheelchair, a reminder that he was stricken with Polio at age 39 and never walked un-aided again. Thus, he spent his entire presidency confined to a wheelchair, a fact that is easily overlooked, as Roosevelt himself went to great efforts to hide it.

At the end of the memorial, you’ll find a statue of Roosevelt with his beloved dog, Falla, and a separate statue of his wife, Eleanor, commemorating her role in both the presidency and her later service as the U.S. United Nations Ambassador.

Allow at least 30 minutes to view the entire memorial.

1.) World War II Memorial

This is probably my favorite of all the monuments, but not so much for its design. Its the most important to me because my grandfather fought in World War II and was injured at Normandy (not on D-Day, but on the third day). He is one of the people honored and remembered through this memorial. The memorial opened in April 2004. The memorial does a great job recognizing the bravery and sacrifice not just of the 16 million men who served in World War II, but also for the women who joined the war efforts on the home front. Over 400,000 Americans lost their lives during the wars in the Pacific and in Europe. One side is dedicated to the war in Europe, the other to the Pacific.

Twenty-four bronze panels depict scenes from the war and the home-front around the memorial. Fifty-six granite columns stand prominently at either end of the memorial symbolize the unity of the forty-eight U.S. states, territories, and District of Columbia. A wall of 4,048 gold stars pays tribute to the over 400,000 servicemen who gave their lives in battle. The Rainbow Pool lies in the middle of the memorial where its triumphant fountains never cease.

Nearly $200 million in private funds were raised to build the memorial. It lies along 17th Street, between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, next to the Reflecting Pool.

Each time I have visited the memorial, I have seen families there with loved ones who are veterans of World War II — some of the relatively few still living. In America, we call the World War II generation “the greatest generation.” I’d have to agree, and it’s great to see them permanently honored in our nation’s capital. I only wish my own grandfather had lived to see it.

How to make it happen

To visit each of these monuments (with the exception of Iwo Jima), start at the back of U.S. Capitol building (that’s the pretty side, in case you’re confused) and head down the National Mall following the towering Washington Monument in the sky. You’ll come first to the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial before making your way down and then around, ending at the Jefferson Memorial. You can either walk from there to your next destination, or catch a cab right there. They come by every few minutes.

Each of the memorials is free to view and some have small Visitor’s Centers and even offer guided tours throughout the day. The Washington Monument sells tickets to go up inside. If you visit at night, try not to go alone, and stick to well-lighted paths. There are police everywhere, but some of the paths can get a little isolated, particularly around the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

Plan for 2-3 hours to visit the monuments. Keep in mind you will need to walk the entire length of the mall if you view them all at once. During the warmer months, vendors sell refreshments along the way. Not a bad idea to bring some water.

Enjoy your walk! It’s hands-down one of the best in America!

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Related posts:

1. 10 must-see monuments in Washington, D.C. (Part One)