Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial honors the men and woman of the U. S. Armed Forces and the United Nations who fought in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Original authorization for the memorial came in 1986 under the Reagan Administration, but it wasn’t until 1993 that construction began. It is the second national war memorial erected on the National Mall, having been dedicated on July 27, 1995, by President Bill Clinton and the President of the Republic of Korea, Young Sam. This dedication came thirteen years after the unveiling of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982, and nine years before the World War II Memorial.
Sculpture of a soldier at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington
The Korean War Veterans Memorial is certainly the most eerie of those on the National Mall, with its most prominent feature being the On Patrol section, a field of sculptures depicting a squad of nineteen soldiers hesitantly walking across a rugged, open field expecting to be attacked at any moment. Fourteen figures are U. S. Army soldiers, three are from the Marine Corps, and one each from the Navy and Air Force. The sculptures were created by Frank Gaylord.
On Patrol sculptures, part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C.
On Patrol sculptures, part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C.
The Mural Wall lines the southern sidewalk that runs alongside the On Patrol sculptures of the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Designed by Louis Nelson Associates in New York, the polished black granite wall is etched with the faces of over 2,400 war veterans who supported the ground troops. The images are arranged by branch of service, with the U.S. Army on the left, the Air Force in the center, and the Navy on the right.
Mural Wall, part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C.
The field with the On Patrol sculptures tapers to a point that juts into the middle of a circular pool known as the Pool of Remembrance. Forty Linden trees and nine benches circle the pool. A granite curb at the base is engraved with the number of men and women killed, wounded, missing in action, and held prisoner during the war.
Pool of Remembrance, part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C.
Engraved granite curbs around the Pool of Remembrance, part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C.
The newest addition to the Korean War Veterans Memorial is the Wall of Remembrance. This feature flanks the circular walkway surrounding the pool and lists the names of the 36,574 Americans and 7,114 members of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army who died during the war. The names are listed alphabetically by rank and branch of service. The wall was dedicated on July 27, 2022.
Wall of Remembrance, part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial is open year-round, 24 hours a day. Park Rangers are on hand from 9:30 AM to 10 PM to answer questions (except for Christmas day). The National Park Service offers daily programs that rotate throughout the memorials on the Mall. To find out what sort of activities are going on when you visit, see the National Park Service’s Calendar web page for the National Mall and Memorial Parks.
Korean War Veterans Memorial at night (photo by Jason Girouard)
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Last updated on November 5, 2025
