John Ericsson Memorial

In West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., the John Ericsson Memorial honors the Swedish engineer who revolutionized naval history by introducing the propeller and designed the ironclad USS Monitor. Dedicated in 1926 and funded by congressional appropriations and donations from Scandinavian citizens, the memorial was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser. The 20-foot-tall pink granite sculpture shows a seated Ericsson in front of a Yggdrasil tree, flanked by three standing figures symbolizing adventure, labor, and vision. Today the monument is managed by National Mall and Memorial Parks and offers visitors a glimpse into the technological and military history of the United States.