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Visiting the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
What is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial and where is it? The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, is located at the base of Capitol Hill at 540 Independence Avenue SW. The four-acre urban park features a variety of pieces that symbolize Eisenhower’s inspirational feats during his time as the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War II and as the 34th U.S. president. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mary Laurin (@fiddlefun2) What will I see at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial? The memorial site itself holds a close and unique relationship to Eisenhower’s life-long commitment to public service. The federal entities neighboring the Maryland Avenue site demonstrate Eisenhower’s broad legacy of improved national infrastructure, the foundation upon which he worked to build “a peace with justice in a world where moral law prevails.” In honor of his military accomplishments, General Eisenhower appears with paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division before the Battle of Normandy. Behind the sculptures is a bas relief featuring Eisenhower that depicts the Normandy landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944. His time as president is memorialized through sculptures that symbolize the balance of security and liberty that Eisenhower worked to achieve. One features Dwight in the Oval Office surrounded by military and civilian advisors. A map of the world in bas relief stands behind, reflecting Eisenhower’s internationalism and role as a world leader. A life-size sculpture of young Eisenhower takes you to the beginning of his journey. The piece is accompanied by an inscription of an excerpt from Eisenhower's Abilene Homecoming Speech in Kansas on June 22, 1945, where he declared “the proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.” A stainless-steel tapestry frames the entire memorial and portrays an abstract depiction of the Normandy coastline in peacetime to represent the peace Eisenhower won as supreme commander, then preserved as commander-in-chief. The iconic Pointe du Hoc landmark is featured at the center of the hand-drawn image. The one-of-a-kind piece is 450 feet long, supported by 80-foot stone-clad columns, and the image will appear differently throughout the day based on light and shadows. Free audio guides are available for your self-guided tour.
Guide to Accessibility at Monuments & Memorials on the National Mall
For Planning Purposes NPS provides braille brochures of every monument and memorial on the National Mall free of charge to onsite visitors. All monuments and memorials on the National Mall are wheelchair accessible. Please note that there are a limited number of wheelchairs available upon request on a first-come, first-served basis at several of the memorials, including the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial. American Sign Language interpretation is available for free upon request. NPS has also established a parkwide Accessibility Coordinator. We advise you to contact NPS at least three (3) weeks in advance of your trip to make arrangements and ask questions. If you prefer to do so by phone, call 202-246-6841. Key Accessibility Facts For Major Monuments & Memorials Washington Monument 2 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20024 The elevator that transports visitors to the observation level is fully wheelchair accessible. Panoramic images are also available inside the elevator for visitors who cannot see out the windows. Images of the Monument’s Commemorative Stones are available for those who cannot access the stairwell. Closed captioning is available for all films shown during your visit. Contact the Park Ranger on duty if you encounter any issues. More information Lincoln Memorial 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW, Washington, DC 20002 A large print version of the Gettysburg Address is available. Closed captioning is available for all films shown during your visit. Contact the Park Ranger on duty if you encounter any issues. More information Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial 1850 West Basin Drive SW, Washington, DC 20024 Accessible parking spaces are available immediately next to the memorial on West Basin Drive. The on-site bookstore (open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily) offers wheelchairs upon request with a state-issued ID card. Accessible restrooms are available on the south side of the bookstore’s building. More information Thomas Jefferson Memorial 16 East Basin Drive SW, Washington, DC 20024 Accessible parking spaces are available immediately next to the memorial on East Basin Drive. Wheelchairs are available upon request with a state-issued identification card. An elevator is located in the basement of the memorial to access the chamber area. Accessible restrooms are also located in the basement. More information Korean War Veterans Memorial 10 Daniel French Drive SW, Washington, DC 20002 The recently renovated memorial has wheelchairs available upon request on a first-come, first-served basis. The outdoor memorial, including its 19 stainless steel statues and the Remembrance Wall, has plenty of space for traversing by wheelchair. More information Vietnam Veterans Memorial 5 Henry Bacon Drive NW, Washington, DC 20245 The closest accessible parking spaces are available on the south side of the Lincoln Memorial. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is on the north side. More information World War II Memorial 1750 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC Accessible parking spaces are available on nearby Home Front Drive SW, which can be accessed from southbound 17th Street. Widened walkways and easy transitions between levels, as well as low partial walls, are all features designed to increase accessibility. More information Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial 400 West Basin Drive SW, Washington, DC Accessible parking spaces are available next to the memorial on West Basin Drive. Accessible waysides contain nearby inscriptions in braille and audio listening devices. Accessible restrooms are on the north and south end of the memorial. The memorial offers an array of tactile elements as well as accessible exhibits in its information center. Braille brochures are also available. More information Other Related Articles Guide to Accessibility at Smithsonian Museums in Washington, DC 8 Must-See Monuments & Memorials on the National Mall
Guide to Accessibility at Smithsonian Museums in Washington, DC
Know Before You Go The Smithsonian Institution offers numerous resources to ensure any visit to any of its DC museums is satisfying. Here are a few need-to-know facts as you plan a trip that requires access services. Make sure to visit the Access Smithsonian website for a full overview, including additional general museum tips. Manual wheelchairs are available at no cost at all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are welcome to use their own personal mobility devices in Smithsonian museums. Access services for public programs, such as real-time captioning and sign language interpretation, can be arranged by emailing Access@si.edu. Open captioning is provided on all museum exhibition videos. Assistive listening devices are available at all Smithsonian museums. Tactile and visual description tours can be arranged by contacting the individual museums or by emailing Access@si.edu. Tactile elements are available throughout many Smithsonian museums. The Smithsonian Institution guide and map are available in braille and large print at each museum’s information desk. Bathrooms are located throughout the Smithsonian museums. All bathrooms have an accessible stall, and some museums have a Family/Companion Care restroom. Inquire at the museum Information Desk or look at the museum’s map to find bathroom locations. Visit Access Smithsonian for more information. Accessibility Options for Each Smithsonian Museum in DC Each link below will take you directly to pertinent accessibility information for each museum located in the area, including parking, wheelchair access, restrooms, available services and more. National Museum of African American History and Culture National Museum of African Art National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Chantilly, Va.) American Art Museum & Renwick Gallery National Museum of American History National Museum of the American Indian Anacostia Community Museum National Zoo National Postal Museum National Portrait Gallery National Museum of Natural History Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden National Museum of Asian Art Accessibility Map for Smithsonian Museums On and Near the Mall The map is printable and includes a detailed diagram of entrances with wheelchair access, curb cuts, paved walkways, designated parking for persons with disabilities and more. Aira, a visual interpreting service, is also available to all Smithsonian visitors. Additional Information Access Smithsonian features a bevy of pre-visit materials to assist you in getting acquainted with its DC museums ahead of your trip, including social narratives, exhibit breakdowns and entry information for each location. More information on accessibility throughout Washington, DC
