District of Columbia War Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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District of Columbia War Memorial
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District of Columbia War Memorial
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 Location in Central Washington, D.C.
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| Location | Independence Ave. between 17th & 23rd Sts., Washington, D.C., United States |
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| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Frederick H. Brooke, Horace W. Peaslee, Nathan C. Wyeth |
| Architectural style | Doric order |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000388 |
| Added to NRHP | July 11, 2014 |
The District of Columbia War Memorial is a special monument in Washington, D.C.. It was built to remember the people from Washington, D.C., who served in World War I. You can find it on the National Mall. It looks like a round, open temple with a dome, built in 1931.
History of the Memorial
This memorial was created to honor soldiers from World War I who died during the war. It is located in West Potomac Park, surrounded by trees, not far from Independence Avenue.
The idea for the memorial was approved by the United States Congress on June 7, 1924. Money to build it came from groups and people living in Washington, D.C. Building started in the spring of 1931. President Herbert Hoover officially opened the memorial on November 11, 1931. This day is known as Armistice Day, which marks the end of World War I.
This was the first war memorial built in West Potomac Park. It is still the only memorial on the National Mall that honors local citizens of Washington, D.C.
Design and Features
A Washington architect named Frederick H. Brooke designed the memorial. Horace W. Peaslee and Nathan C. Wyeth also helped with the design. The memorial is a round building, about 47 feet (14.3 meters) tall. It has a dome and a row of columns around it, like an ancient Greek temple. This style is called Doric.
The memorial stands on a marble base that is 4 feet (1.2 meters) high. This base forms a platform, about 43 feet (13.2 meters) wide. This area was meant to be used as a bandstand.
Inside the memorial's cornerstone, there is a list of 26,000 people from Washington who served in World War I. On the outside of the base, you can see the names of 499 citizens from Washington, D.C., who died in the war. There are also special symbols representing the different parts of the armed forces. Twelve tall marble columns, each 22 feet (6.7 meters) high, hold up the roof and dome.
Recent Changes and Recognition
In September 2008, a politician named Ted Poe from Texas suggested that the memorial should be made bigger. He also wanted it to become the national memorial for World War I. Frank Buckles, who was the last living U.S. veteran of World War I, supported this idea.
In July 2010, the National Park Service announced plans to fix up the memorial. This work was paid for by a special government fund. The repairs began in October 2010. The memorial reopened to the public on November 10, 2011. In 2014, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places important to American history.
The National Park Service takes care of the memorial. It is part of their National Mall and Memorial Parks unit.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento de Guerra al Distrito de Columbia para niños
