World War II Memorial as seen from the Washington Monument

The World War II Memorial is located on the opposite end of the Reflecting Pool from the Lincoln Memorial and is easily accessed from 17th Street in Washington, D. C. It has the distinction of being the last memorial erected on the National Mall, for as of 2003, no more memorials of any type can be added. Though constructed between 2001 and 2004, it had been approved by Congress in 1993. (The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial  was constructed after this date, but it is not technically on the National Mall, which has a southern border of Independence Avenue.)

View of the World War II Memorial from 17th Street

Nearly all of the money for the World War II Memorial was raised through private donations. The U. S. government only contributed $16 million of the approximate $200 million cost.

World War II Memorial

A national design competition was launched in 1996, and architect Friedrich St. Florian, a naturalized American citizen who was born in Austria, was announced the winner in 1997.

Rainbow Pool Fountain at the World War II Memorial

The monument’s design had to incorporate the Rainbow Pool Fountain, which had been built earlier as part of Constitution Gardens. Fifty-six pillars that represent the number of states and territories at the time of the war are split evenly and placed in a semicircle at each end of the oval fountain.

Fifty-six pillars represent the states and territories of the United States at the time of World War II

Centered between the pillars at each end of the fountain is a massive pavilion representing the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns of World War II. The names of important battles are engraved around the fountain at the base of each pavilion.

Atlantic Pavilion and its fountain

On the west side of the monument, aligned with the Reflecting Pool, is a wall of 4,048 gold stars, each representing 1,000 U. S. causalities in the war.

Wall of Gold Stars reflects in a pool at its base

Leading from 17th Street on either side of the memorial’s entrance are short walls, each containing 12 bas-relief sculptures of scenes from the war.

Bas-relief sculptures line the wall at the entrance to the World War II Memorial

The World War II 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.

Back to the Top