United States War Memorials you need to visit
These are your war memorial destination points. Plan your visit to honor those who deserve recognition the most.
Militaria collectors and historians who enjoy a bit of traveling have no shortage of great war memorial sites to visit around the United States. There are scores of interesting official historical sites, museums and local parks and landmarks that are worthy of a road trip.
But there are some important shrines that should be on every collector or military buff’s “must visit” list. Following is a list of our top locations to visit in the continental U.S.
World War I Memorial
The World War I Memorial honors the estimated 4.7 million Americans who served in World War I. The Pershing Park was originally the home of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) Memorial and named after their commander, General John J. Pershing. The site was expanded and re-opened in 2021 to honor all Americans who served.
The memorial includes a peace fountain next to a wall featuring a poem by Archibald MacLeish that reads:
“Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace
and a new hope. Or for nothing, we cannot say, it is
you who must say this. They say we leave you our deaths,
give them their meaning. We were young, they say,
we have died, remember us.”
Pershing Park
Washington, DC 20045
World War II Memorial
The World War II Memorial is located close to the Korean War Memorial in the National Mall. It uses 56 pillars, representing U.S. states and territories, and two arches to symbolize the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, along with a fountain and oval-shaped pedestrian plaza. Opened in 2004, it replaced the former Rainbow Pool on the east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.
The Freedom Wall is on the west side of the plaza has 4,048 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the war. On the wall is a message that reads: “Here we mark the price of freedom”.[9][a]
It is operated by the National Parks Service and is open 24/7
1750 Independence Ave,
Washington, DC 20024
Vietnam War Memorial
Opened in 1982, the Vietnam War Memorial, also called the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is known for its sobering “Wall” listing the names of those those who fought and died during the Vietnam War from 1965 through 1975. More than 58,000 names are memorialized on the wall, located in War Memorial Park in Washington D.C. The site also features the Vietnam Women’s Memorial honoring nurses and other female personnel that served in Vietnam.
The Vietnam War Memorial is open to the public 24 hours a day, year-round.
5 Henry Bacon Drive NW
Washington, DC 20002
Korean War Memorial
The Korean War Memorial, D.C., opened in 1995 near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and is parts of the National Mall and Memorial Parks.
It features a Wall of Remembrance and 19 stainless steel statues depicting the soldiers who fought in the Korean War from 1950-1953. Like the Vietnam War Memorial, it’s open 24/7.
900 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, D.C. 20024
D.C. War Memorial
This shrine honors military members from the District of Columbia who served in World War I. The lovely white, stone, circular structure that was built in 1931 and underwent an extensive restoration in 2010.
The D.C. War Memorial features the names of military members who were lost in battle, in alphabetical order. The shrinel features a 47-foot-high circular, domed structure. temple. In the cornerstone of the District of Columbia World War Memorial is a list of 26,000 Washingtonians who served in WWI. Inscribed on the base are the names of the 499 District of Columbia citizens who lost their lives in the war. It’s open 24/7.
900 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, DC 20024
American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial
This Washington D.C. facility honors American military members who were permanently disabled in the line of duty. The memorial was dedicated by President Barack Obama on October 5, 2014. Located adjacent to the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, the memorial includes a fountain in the shape of a star, a reflecting pool, “Wall of Gratitude” and “Voices of Veterans” with 49 glass panels that make up three glass walls filled with photos and messages from disabled veterans; and a grove of memorial trees.
900 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, DC 20024
African American Civil War Memorial
Located at the corner of Vermont Avenue, 10th Street, and U Street NW in Washington, D.C., the African American Civil War Memorial honors the 209,000-plus African Americans who fought in the U.S. Army and Navy during the Civil War from 1861-65. The memorial features a 9-foot bronze statue by Ed Hamilton, called The Spirit of Freedom, along with walls inscribed with the names of the men who served in the Civil War.
Located across the street from the African American Civil War Museum and open 24 hours a day.
900 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, DC 20024
Marine Corps War Memorial
Built to honor all Marines who died in combat, this shrine near Arlington, Va., was dedicated in 1954. The main attraction is the amazing Iwo Jima flag-raising statue. President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation in 1961, that American Flag should fly over the memorial 24 hours a day, making it one of the few official sites where this is required. The Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. uses the memorial as the centerpiece of its weekly Sunset Parade.
700 George Washington Memorial Parkway
McLean, VA 22101
Grosse Point War Memorial
Better known as “The War Memorial,” Grosse Pointe War Memorial is a multi-purpose site that can be used for public gatherings such as weddings, concerts, dances, holiday celebrations and reunions. It was built to remember Grosse Point area residents who served and were lost in World War II.
The site features the Russell A. Alger Jr. House, named after a former governor of Michigan and a Civil War general and lumber baron.
32 Lake Shore Drive
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
National Memorial Arch
Located Valley Forge National Historical Park, Pennsylvania, this beautiful monument was built built to celebrate the arrival of Gen.l George Washington and the Continental Army at Valley Forge. Revolutionary War Soldiers at the Valley Forge camp located 18 miles northwest of spent a brutal winter there in 1777–78 with starvation, disease, malnutrition, and exposure eventually claiming 2,500 soldiers.
The arch was formally dedicated to on June 19, 1917. On the front of the memorial is a quote from George Washington’s letter to Governor George Clinton while at Valley Forge.
“Naked and starving as they are
We cannot enough admire
The incomparable Patience and Fidelity
of the Soldiery”.
1400 North Outer Line Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406
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