National World War I Memorial (Washington, D.C.)

For the memorial and museum located in Kansas City, Missouri, see National World War I Museum and Memorial.
National World War I Memorial
National World War I Memorial in 2023
Map showing the location of National World War I Memorial
Map showing the location of National World War I Memorial
Map showing the location of National World War I Memorial
Map showing the location of National World War I Memorial
LocationWashington, D.C., U.S.
Nearest cityWashington, D.C.
Coordinates38°53′46″N 77°1′58″W / 38.89611°N 77.03278°W / 38.89611; -77.03278
Area1.76 acres (7,100 m2)
EstablishedMay 14, 1981 (Pershing Park)
April 16, 2021 (National World War I Memorial)
Governing bodyNational Park Service and National World War I Memorial Commission
WebsiteNational World War I Memorial

The National World War I Memorial is a national memorial commemorating the service rendered by members of the United States Armed Forces in World War I. The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act authorized the World War I Centennial Commission to build the memorial in Pershing Park, located at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. The park, which has existed since 1981, also contains the John J. Pershing General of the Armies commemorative work. In January 2016, the design commission selected the submission "The Weight of Sacrifice", by a team consisting of Joseph Weishaar, Sabin Howard, Phoebe Lickwar, and GWWO Architects, as the winning design,[1] which was completed in September 2024.[2]

In 2016, David Rubin Land Collective replaced Forge as landscape architects for the project. Growing pressure to preserve M. Paul Friedberg’s design for Pershing Park while acknowledging the extent of the park as the national memorial required a balanced approach inserting new elements of commemoration and managed change of the original modernist construct. Although the project had met “concept approval” previously, in an effort to describe a thoughtful memorial while revivifying the urban park, a new concept was developed for approval by the agencies with oversight. Where the winning proposal erased a significant portion of the park, the new proposal led by DAVID RUBIN Land Collective struck a balance to ensure both modernist park and memorial could be read simultaneously. Over the course of 39 months, the design team presented alternates negotiating memorial and park elements, resulting in a holistic urban park memorial that met the needs of all parties, including the World War I Commission.

On September 19, 2020, Libby O’Connell, representing the World War I Commission, and David A. Rubin, founding principal of David Rubin Land Collective, presented the revised design to the US Commission of Fine Arts for final approval, and the new concept was able to move forward through construction.

On April 16, 2021, the U.S. flag was raised at the memorial and President Joe Biden spoke at a virtual ceremony opening it to the public.[3][4]

  1. ^ Kennicott, Philip (January 26, 2016). "World War One Centennial Commission moves forward, cautiously". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Steinhauer, Jennifer (April 16, 2021). "After Years of Wrangling, World War I Memorial Raises First Flag". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  4. ^ "WATCH: Ceremony heralds opening of WWI Memorial in Washington D.C." PBS NewsHour. April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.