National World War II Memorial

Welcome to the National World War II Memorial, situated prominently on the central axis of the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. This architectural masterpiece occupies over seven acres of…

Descending the ceremonial walkway, your attention is drawn to the twenty-four sculpted bronze bas-relief panels inset along the balustrades. These remarkable works of art were meticulously crafted by sculptor Ray Kaskey, who…

Advancing further into the plaza, we stand beneath the soaring forty-three-foot arches of the Northern Pavilion, dedicated to the Atlantic Theater. This monumental structure serves as a triumphal arch, celebrating the sheer…

Walking across the plaza, we arrive at the Southern Pavilion, identical in architectural scale but dedicated entirely to the grueling campaigns of the Pacific Theater. Here, the focus shifts to the vast oceanic battlegrounds, the…

Embracing the central plaza in a sweeping semicircular embrace are fifty-six granite pillars. Each of these imposing columns represents a United States state, territory, or the District of Columbia as it existed during the war…

At the very heart of the memorial lies the Rainbow Pool, a beautifully restored historical water feature that originally graced this site since the 1920s. The designers carefully replicated the exact shape of the original pool,…

Before we approach the memorial's most solemn feature, let us seek out a small, hidden detail that captures the irrepressible spirit and humor of the American GI. Tucked away in an inconspicuous location behind the pillars is a…

Our journey through the National World War II Memorial concludes at its most sacred and sobering precinct: The Freedom Wall. Rising prominently on the western edge of the plaza, this dark granite wall holds a field of exactly…