List of national memorials of the United States facts for kids
A national memorial is a special place in the United States that helps us remember an important person or event from history. The National Park Service (NPS) takes care of many of these memorials. They also help other groups manage even more.
Memorials don't always have to be exactly where the event happened. For example, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors Abraham Lincoln, but it's not where he lived or worked. Sometimes, memorials can be similar to national monuments or historic sites.
The very first national memorial was the Washington Monument, finished in 1884. It's a tall, famous landmark. The newest one is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, opened in 2020. Many memorials are in Washington, D.C., which has twelve. Pennsylvania and New York each have three.
These memorials help us learn about different parts of American history. Some honor presidents, others remember important people, wars, or even disasters. They help build our national identity and remind us of shared experiences.
Contents
National Park Service Memorials
The National Park Service (NPS) looks after 31 national memorials. These are official parts of the National Park System.
| Name | Image | Location | Year Established | What it Remembers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Post | Arkansas 34°01′N 91°21′W / 34.02°N 91.35°W |
1960 | This was the first European trading post in the Mississippi River Valley, started in 1686. It was a French, then Spanish, then American settlement. A Civil War battle also happened here. You can see a rebuilt fort and old settlement remains. | |
| Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial | Virginia 38°52′52″N 77°04′23″W / 38.881°N 77.073°W |
1955 | This mansion was built by George Washington's adopted son. Later, Robert E. Lee, a famous Civil War general, lived here. The US government took it during the Civil War and started Arlington National Cemetery around it. | |
| Chamizal | Texas 31°46′N 106°27′W / 31.77°N 106.45°W |
1974 | This memorial celebrates how the US and Mexico solved a land dispute peacefully. The Rio Grande river had changed its path, causing problems. A 1964 agreement fixed the border. The park shows how countries can work together. | |
| Coronado | Arizona 31°20′N 110°15′W / 31.34°N 110.25°W |
1952 | This site remembers Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, who led the first European journey through the Southwest in the 1500s. He explored from Arizona to Kansas. The memorial is near the Mexican border, where he entered the US. | |
| De Soto | Florida 27°31′N 82°38′W / 27.52°N 82.64°W |
1948 | This memorial marks where Hernando de Soto landed in 1539. He led the first European exploration of the Southeast. He searched for gold and interacted with Native American tribes. The site has a reconstructed camp and trails. | |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial | District of Columbia 38°53′N 77°01′W / 38.89°N 77.02°W |
2020 | This memorial honors Dwight D. Eisenhower, a World War II general and US president. He helped create NASA and the Interstate Highway System. The memorial has statues of him and a steel tapestry. | |
| Federal Hall | New York 40°42′25″N 74°00′36″W / 40.707°N 74.010°W |
1955 | This building in Wall Street stands where the first US Capitol was. George Washington was sworn in as president here. The first US Congress also met in the original building. | |
| Flight 93 | Pennsylvania 40°03′18″N 78°54′04″W / 40.055°N 78.901°W |
2011 | This memorial honors the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93. On September 11, 2001, they fought back against terrorists, preventing the plane from hitting another target. It crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. | |
| Fort Caroline | Florida 30°23′10″N 81°29′53″W / 30.386°N 81.498°W |
1953 | French Huguenots built Fort Caroline in 1565 as a safe place. A year later, the Spanish attacked and took control of the area. The site has a reconstructed fort and a visitor center. | |
| Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial | District of Columbia 38°52′59″N 77°02′35″W / 38.883°N 77.043°W |
1997 | This memorial honors Franklin D. Roosevelt, the longest-serving US president. He led the country during the Great Depression and World War II. It has waterfalls, statues, and quotes from his time in office. | |
| General Grant | New York 40°48′47″N 73°57′47″W / 40.813°N 73.963°W |
1959 | This is the resting place of Ulysses S. Grant, a Civil War general and US president. He led the Union Army to victory. As president, he worked on civil rights and government reform. | |
| Hamilton Grange | New York 40°49′16″N 73°56′49″W / 40.821°N 73.947°W |
1988 | This mansion was the home of Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers. He helped create the US economic system. He lived here for the last two years of his life. | |
| Johnstown Flood | Pennsylvania 40°21′00″N 78°46′16″W / 40.350°N 78.771°W |
1964 | This memorial remembers the terrible Johnstown Flood of 1889. The South Fork Dam broke, flooding the town and killing over 2,200 people. It was one of the deadliest events in US history. | |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial | District of Columbia 38°53′17″N 77°02′53″W / 38.888°N 77.048°W |
1995 | This memorial honors the Americans who fought in the Korean War (1950-1953). Over 36,000 US service members died in this conflict. It has a wall with soldier images and statues of a patrol. | |
| Lincoln Boyhood | Indiana 38°06′47″N 86°59′46″W / 38.113°N 86.996°W |
1962 | This site shows where Abraham Lincoln lived from age 7 to 21. He worked on his family's farm and taught himself to read and write. His mother is buried here. There's a living museum that shows farm life from that time. | |
| Lincoln Memorial | District of Columbia 38°53′20″N 77°03′00″W / 38.889°N 77.050°W |
1922 | This grand temple honors Abraham Lincoln, who led the US during the Civil War and ended slavery. A huge statue of Lincoln sits inside. The walls have famous speeches like the Gettysburg Address. | |
| Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac | District of Columbia 38°52′37″N 77°03′00″W / 38.877°N 77.050°W |
1974 | This grove of trees honors Lyndon B. Johnson, a US president. He passed laws that expanded healthcare (Medicare/Medicaid) and protected civil and voting rights. The memorial has trails and a granite stone. | |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial | District of Columbia 38°53′10″N 77°02′38″W / 38.886°N 77.044°W |
2011 | This memorial honors Martin Luther King Jr., a key leader of the Civil rights movement. He fought for equal rights using peaceful protests. The memorial has a large statue of King and quotes from his speeches. | |
| Mount Rushmore | South Dakota 43°52′44″N 103°27′32″W / 43.879°N 103.459°W |
1939 | This famous site has the faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln carved into a mountain. The carvings are about 60 feet tall. | |
| Pearl Harbor | Hawaii 21°22′N 157°57′W / 21.36°N 157.95°W |
2019 | This memorial remembers the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This surprise attack by Japan led the US to enter World War II. It honors the 2,403 Americans who died. The USS Arizona Memorial is a main part of the site. | |
| Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial | Ohio 41°39′14″N 82°48′40″W / 41.654°N 82.811°W |
1972 | This memorial celebrates Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. It also honors the lasting peace between the US, Britain, and Canada. It has a very tall column with an observation deck. | |
| Port Chicago Naval Magazine | California 38°03′22″N 122°01′48″W / 38.056°N 122.030°W |
1992 | This site remembers the Port Chicago disaster of 1944. A huge explosion killed 320 people, mostly Black sailors. This event led to protests against unsafe conditions and segregation in the military. | |
| Roger Williams | Rhode Island 41°49′52″N 71°24′40″W / 41.831°N 71.411°W |
1965 | This memorial honors Roger Williams, who founded the colony of Rhode Island. He believed in religious freedom and was forced to leave the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his beliefs. The memorial is a park in Providence. | |
| Thaddeus Kosciuszko | Pennsylvania 39°56′35″N 75°08′49″W / 39.943°N 75.147°W |
1972 | This small memorial honors Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish engineer. He helped the Continental Army during the American Revolution by building forts. He lived in this house in Philadelphia for a short time. It's the smallest unit in the National Park System. | |
| Theodore Roosevelt Island | District of Columbia 38°53′49″N 77°03′50″W / 38.897°N 77.064°W |
1967 | This forested island honors Theodore Roosevelt, a US president known for protecting nature. He created the Forest Service and many national monuments. The island has hiking trails and a plaza with a statue of Roosevelt. | |
| Thomas Jefferson Memorial | District of Columbia 38°52′52″N 77°02′13″W / 38.881°N 77.037°W |
1943 | This memorial honors Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father who wrote the Declaration of Independence. He was also president and expanded the country with the Louisiana Purchase. The memorial has a bronze statue and famous quotes. | |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial | District of Columbia 38°53′28″N 77°02′53″W / 38.891°N 77.048°W |
1982 | This memorial honors the Americans who served in the Vietnam War (1955-1975). Its black granite walls are engraved with the names of over 58,000 service members who died. There are also statues honoring women who served and the diverse soldiers. | |
| Washington Monument | District of Columbia 38°53′20″N 77°02′06″W / 38.889°N 77.035°W |
1885 | This tall obelisk honors George Washington, who led the US to victory in the Revolutionary War and became the first president. It's a central part of the National Mall. You can take an elevator to the top for views. | |
| World War I Memorial | District of Columbia 38°53′46″N 77°01′59″W / 38.896°N 77.033°W |
2014 | This memorial honors Americans who fought in World War I (1917-1918). About 2.8 million US service members fought, and 53,000 died. It's being changed from a park with a fountain to a plaza with a wall of remembrance. | |
| World War II Memorial | District of Columbia 38°53′20″N 77°02′24″W / 38.889°N 77.040°W |
2004 | This memorial honors the over 16 million Americans who served in World War II (1941-1945). It has arches for the Atlantic and Pacific war areas, and 56 pillars for the states and territories. A wall with 4,048 gold stars remembers the many who died. | |
| Wright Brothers | North Carolina 36°00′50″N 75°40′05″W / 36.014°N 75.668°W |
1953 | This memorial celebrates Wilbur and Orville Wright, who made the first powered flight in 1903 at Kill Devil Hills. A monument shaped like a wing honors their amazing achievement in aviation. |
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Affiliated National Park Service Areas
The National Park Service helps these memorials with advice or money, but they are managed by other groups.
| Name | Image | Location | Year Established | What it Remembers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Memorial Park | Northern Mariana Islands 15°12′58″N 145°43′19″E / 15.216°N 145.722°E |
1978 | This park remembers the thousands of American and Chamorro people who died in the Battles of Saipan and Tinian during World War II. It has a flag monument and a bell tower. | |
| Benjamin Franklin | Pennsylvania 39°57′29″N 75°10′23″W / 39.958°N 75.173°W |
1972 | This memorial honors Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father. He signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He also made many scientific discoveries and inventions. A large marble statue of him is inside the Franklin Institute. | |
| Father Marquette | Michigan 45°51′11″N 84°43′34″W / 45.853°N 84.726°W |
1975 | This memorial honors Jacques Marquette, a French missionary. He founded the first two European settlements in Michigan. He also explored the Upper Mississippi River. | |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma 35°28′23″N 97°31′01″W / 35.473°N 97.517°W |
2000 | This memorial remembers the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. A truck bomb killed 168 people and injured many more. It has a reflecting pool, gates that show the time before and after the attack, and a field of empty chairs. | |
| Red Hill Patrick Henry | Virginia 37°01′55″N 78°53′53″W / 37.032°N 78.898°W |
1986 | This memorial is at the home of Patrick Henry, a famous speaker for American independence. He is known for his "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech. He lived at this estate for the last five years of his life. |
Other National Memorials
Congress has also named other places as national memorials, even if the National Park Service doesn't manage them directly. These are often run by local governments or private groups.
| Name | Image | Location | Year Designated | What it Remembers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIDS Memorial Grove | California
37°46′N 122°28′W / 37.77°N 122.46°W |
1996 | This beautiful garden in San Francisco honors people affected by HIV/AIDS. It is a place for remembrance and hope in the fight against the disease. | |
| Astronauts Memorial | Florida
28°32′N 80°41′W / 28.53°N 80.68°W |
1991 | Located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, this memorial lists the names of astronauts who died during space missions or training. It remembers those lost in tragedies like Challenger and Columbia. | |
| Battle of Midway | Midway Atoll
28°12′N 177°21′W / 28.20°N 177.35°W |
2000 | This site remembers the Battle of Midway in June 1942, a key turning point in the Pacific War. The US Navy won a major victory here. It's also a wildlife refuge for birds like albatross. | |
| National D-Day Memorial | Virginia
37°20′N 79°32′W / 37.33°N 79.53°W |
2001 | This memorial honors the Allied forces who landed in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. This huge invasion began the liberation of France during World War II. It has a central pool, an arch, and many statues of soldiers. | |
| National Fallen Firefighters Memorial | Maryland
39°23′42″N 77°19′34″W / 39.395°N 77.326°W |
1990 | This memorial honors firefighters who have died while doing their job. It has a special cross and an eternal flame, surrounded by a wall with their names. | |
| Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II | District of Columbia
38°53′42″N 77°00′36″W / 38.895°N 77.010°W |
2000 | This monument remembers the Japanese Americans who were unfairly held in camps during World War II. It also honors the 33,000 Japanese Americans who served in the US armed forces during that time. It shows cranes escaping barbed wire, symbolizing their strength. | |
| National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial | District of Columbia
38°54′N 77°01′W / 38.90°N 77.02°W |
1991 | This memorial honors over 23,000 law enforcement officers who have died while on duty. It has tree-lined paths and bronze lion sculptures. | |
| Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial | California
32°50′24″N 117°14′42″W / 32.840°N 117.245°W |
2004 | This memorial in San Diego honors veterans and military units. It has a large concrete cross and walls covered with plaques remembering those who served. | |
| National Native American Veterans Memorial | District of Columbia 38°53′20″N 77°00′58″W / 38.889°N 77.016°W |
2020 | This memorial at the National Museum of the American Indian honors the military service of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian veterans. It features a steel circle on a stone drum with flowing water. | |
| National Veterans Memorial and Museum | Ohio
39°58′N 83°01′W / 39.96°N 83.01°W |
2018 | This is the first museum dedicated to all veterans and their families. It shares their personal stories and sacrifices throughout American history. It has a memorial grove with waterfalls. | |
| United States Marine Corps War Memorial | Virginia
38°53′N 77°04′W / 38.89°N 77.07°W |
1954 | This memorial honors all those who died serving in the United States Marine Corps. It shows the famous image of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. | |
| USS Indianapolis Memorial | Indiana
39°46′37″N 86°09′54″W / 39.777°N 86.165°W |
1993 | This memorial remembers the sailors lost when the USS Indianapolis sank in World War II. Many died from the attack and while waiting for rescue. The granite memorial is shaped like a ship and lists the crew's names. |
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Future National Memorials
These memorials have been approved by Congress but are still being planned or built.
| Name | Location | Year Authorized | What it Will Remember |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Memorial | District of Columbia | 2001 | This memorial will honor presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, their wives, and other members of their important family. |
| Hershel Woody Williams National Medal of Honor Monument | District of Columbia | 2021 | This monument will honor all recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest military award. |
| National Emergency Medical Services Memorial | District of Columbia | 2018 | This memorial will honor the brave people who work in emergency medical services (EMS). |
| National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial | District of Columbia 38°53′28″N 77°03′04″W / 38.891°N 77.051°W |
2014 | This memorial will remember the events and veterans of the Gulf War, which ended Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. |
| National Global War on Terrorism Memorial | District of Columbia | 2017 | This memorial will honor the events and veterans of the War on Terror, including the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan. |
| Saint Francis Dam Disaster | California 34°33′N 118°31′W / 34.55°N 118.51°W |
2019 | This memorial will remember the terrible St. Francis Dam failure in 1928, which caused a flood that killed at least 431 people. |
| Women's Suffrage National Monument | District of Columbia | 2020 | This monument will honor the suffragists who worked hard to get women the right to vote in the United States. |
See also
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List of national memorials of the United States Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.