Freedom Park (Arlington, Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freedom Park |
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| Location | Arlington, Virginia |
| Created | 1994 |
Freedom Park is a special park in Arlington, Virginia. It's built on an elevated concrete structure, meaning it rises above the streets below. Think of it like a long, narrow park in the sky!
The park was created in 1996. It was a joint project with the Newseum and the Freedom Forum. The main idea behind Freedom Park was to celebrate freedom. It also honored the ongoing struggle to keep freedom alive around the world.
In 2008, the Newseum moved to a new spot in Washington, D.C.. After that, a property developer took over the park. Many of the original exhibits were then removed. Today, people who live and work in Rosslyn often use the park. It's a peaceful place to escape the busy city below.
Exploring Freedom Park's Exhibits
Freedom Park has featured many interesting exhibits over the years. These displays help tell stories about freedom and history.
Current Art and Murals
Today, you can see a beautiful art project at the park.
- Spectrum of Freedom: These are seven colorful tile murals. They were created by artist Karen Singer. She worked with 270 children from schools in Arlington to make them.
Past Exhibits and Their Stories
Before 2008, Freedom Park had many powerful exhibits. These displays shared important moments in history.
- Stones from the Warsaw Ghetto: These were actual stones from the Warsaw Ghetto. This was a place in Warsaw where Jewish people were forced to live during World War II. They bravely resisted their oppressors.
- Vladimir Lenin Statue: A headless statue of Vladimir Lenin was once here. Lenin was a major leader of the Soviet Union. Many of his statues were taken down when the Soviet Union ended in 1991.
- Martin Luther King Jr.'s Jail Door: This was a bronze copy of the jail cell door of Martin Luther King Jr.. He was a famous civil rights leader. He fought peacefully for equal rights for all people in the United States.
- Cuban Refugee Boat: A bronze copy of a boat used by Cuban refugees was also on display. These were people who left Cuba seeking freedom and a new life.
- South African Ballot Box: You could also see a copy of a South African ballot box. This was from the time of apartheid. Apartheid was an unfair system of racial separation. This ballot box represented the struggle for everyone to have the right to vote.
- Pieces of the Berlin Wall: The park had several large pieces of the Berlin Wall. This wall divided East and West Berlin in Germany. It was a symbol of a divided world. These pieces were the largest display of the wall outside of Germany.
- Journalists Memorial: This was a tall, spiraling memorial. It was made of special glass. It honored reporters, editors, photographers, and broadcasters. These brave people gave their lives while reporting the news.
Other notable displays included a copy of the Statue of Freedom. This statue sits on top of the United States Capitol building. There was also a copy of the Goddess of Democracy. This statue was first built by students during protests in Tiananmen Square in China in 1989.
