Guglielmo Marconi (Piccirilli) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Guglielmo Marconi Memorial
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
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| Location | Reservation 309A, 16th and Lamont Streets NW Washington, D.C. |
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| Built | 1941 |
| Architect | Attilio Piccirilli (sculptor) Joseph Freedlander (architect) |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001057 |
| Added to NRHP | October 12, 2007 |
The Guglielmo Marconi Memorial is a public artwork in Washington, D.C.. It is found in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. The memorial stands at the corner of 16th and Lamont Streets, N.W. This special artwork honors Guglielmo Marconi, a famous Italian inventor.
The artist who created it was Attilio Piccirilli. People paid for the memorial through public donations. It was put in place in 1941. The memorial is listed on important historical records. These include the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites and the National Register of Historic Places. It was added to these lists in 2007. The monument is also part of the Mount Pleasant Historic District.
Contents
What Does the Memorial Look Like?
The Marconi Memorial has two main parts made of bronze. The first part is a bust of Marconi. A bust is a sculpture of a person's head and shoulders. This bust is about 40 inches tall. It sits on a tall, rectangular base. This base is made of Stony Creek granite.
Behind Marconi's bust is the second bronze piece. This part rests on another granite base. This second bronze shows a female figure. She is sitting on a globe. Her legs are stretched out behind her. She points her left arm straight forward. Her right arm is raised and bent.
The sculptor, Attilio Piccirilli, said this figure represents "the Wave." It shows Marconi's big contribution to science. He helped us understand and use radio waves.
Messages on the Memorial
The base holding Marconi's bust has some words carved into it. On the left side, you can see the artist's name and the year:
- Attilio Piccirilli 1940.
On the back of the same base, it says how the memorial was paid for:
- ERECTED BY POPULAR SUBSCRIPTION
- AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF WASHINGTON
- THE MARCONI MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
- 1940
On the front of the base, you can find Marconi's name and the years he lived:
- MARCONI
- 1874–1937.
Gallery
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Front view of the memorial.
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Back view of the memorial.
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A close-up of Marconi's bust.
How the Memorial Was Paid For
The idea for the memorial started in 1938. This was one year after Marconi passed away. People gave money to a special fund. This fund was created to build the memorial. In the end, the sculpture cost $32,555 to complete.
