District of Columbia World War Memorial |
Independence Ave., NW between 17th and 23rd Streets
Washington
DC USA
Designed in the form of a circular Greek temple (tholos), the memorial is an open-air, white marble, Doric structure intended to serve as a bandstand. A peristyle of 12 fluted Doric columns supports (without bases) supports an inscribed six-foot-tall entablature and, above that, a domed roof. The floor (stylobate) is decorated with white and pink tiles; at the center is a bronze escutcheon featuring an eagle in low relief. The names of the 499 DC residents who died in service are inscribed around the base.
Neo-classical structure
Marble
45' diameter; 47' tall
1931
1931
DC citizens
public
155000
Frank B. Noyes, an ardent supporter of the construction of a memorial and president of the Associated Press and Evening Star, was elected chairman of the Commission. The other members of the Commission were Joseph E. Berberich, Charles A. Baker, Edward F. Colladay, John Joy Edson, Mrs. William Corcoran Eustis, Robert N. Harper, Isaac Gans, Col. E. Lester Jones, Arthur D. Marks, James F. Oyster, Roland S. Robbins, Edgar D. Shaw, Hubert Suter, W.B. Westlake, Gen. Anton Stephan, J.R. McDonald, and Gist Blair, and Edward B. McLean.
Yes
Yes
Yes
James Baird Co., contractor
The 26,000 DC residents who served in the war.
The names inscribed around the base are done listed alphabetically, without mention of rank, color, or gender. Among the listed is Lt George Seibold. His mother founded the Gold Star Mothers after she had trouble learning of his fate, and then discovered that other mothers were also suffering. The story is mentioned in the Historic Park View Walking Tour: http://www.wdchumanities.org/docs/2012DCCHP/ParkViewFinal.pdf
National Park Service
