World War II Memorial - Washington DC

World War II Memorial

The World War II Memorial honors the U.S. military veterans who served during World War II.

The World War II Memorial has an oval shape with two 43-foot arches representing the war's Atlantic and Pacific theaters, and 56 pillars representing the states, territories and Washington DC at the time of the war. Two sculpted bronze wreaths adorn each pillar. Also, waterfalls surround a wall of 4000 gold stars, each one representing 100 U.S. deaths in the war.

Construction of the memorial began in September 2001. The memorial opened to the public on April 29, 2004, and was dedicated on by President Clinton on Saturday, May 29, 2004.

The World War II Memorial is located east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

Hours of Operation

Open 24 hours a day.

Rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily and to provide interpretive programs every hour on the hour from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.

Parking

General visitor parking is available along Ohio Drive, SW between the Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Memorials. Bus parking is available primarily along Ohio Drive, SW near the Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Memorials and along Ohio Drive, SW in East Potomac Park.

There is limited handicapped parking at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and World War II Memorials and near the Washington Monument and the Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Korean War Veterans, and Vietnam Veterans Memorials; otherwise, street parking is extremely scarce in Washington, D.C.