Samuel Gompers Memorial | |
 Samuel Gompers Memorial in 2015 | |
| Location | 10th Street, L Street, Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°54′14.22″N 77°1′35.4″W / 38.9039500°N 77.026500°W |
| Built | 1933 |
| Architect | Robert Ingersoll Aitken (sculptor) Fred Drew Company (architect) Vitale and Geiffert (landscape) Roman Bronze Works (founder) |
| Part of | Mount Vernon West Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001054[1] 07001054[1] (Mount Vernon West Historic District) |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 11, 2007 September 9, 1999 (Mount Vernon West Historic District) |
| Designated DCIHS | February 22, 2007 July 22, 1999 (Mount Vernon West Historic District) |
The Samuel Gompers Memorial is a bronze collection of statues in Washington, D.C., sited on a triangular park at the intersection of 11th Street, Massachusetts Avenue, and N Street NW. Samuel Gompers was an English-born American who grew up working in cigar factories, where he witnessed the long hours and dangerous conditions people experienced in factory jobs. He helped with growing the Cigar Makers' International Union, and a few years later, founded the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The number of members rose from 50,000 to 3,000,000 during his time as president of the union. He was not only successful in expanding the power of the labor movement, but also increased its prestige.
A year after Gomper's death, it was suggested a memorial be placed in Washington, D.C., that would honor the labor hero. While fundraising for the project took place amongst AFL members, Robert Ingersoll Aitken was selected to create the sculptures. In 1933, the unveiling and dedication of the memorial, located just one block from the American Federation of Labor Building, took place. Amongst the dignitaries present at the ceremony were a number of labor leaders, Eleanor Roosevelt, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who spoke at the event.
The memorial has been repaired on occasion since its installation. The lot where the statue stands was renamed Samuel Gompers Memorial Park in 1955. The memorial depicts Gompers seated and six figures behind him, each representing a facet of labor history. The memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites in 2007, eight years after it was designated a contributing property to the Mount Vernon West Historic District.