U.S. Navy

The United States Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., stands on Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th Street and Indiana Avenue. The memorial honors everyone who has served or is still serving in the U.S. Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, or the Merchant Marine. The site was chosen deliberately, since Pennsylvania Avenue is considered the capital's central axis, linking the Capitol with the White House. The memorial is run by a private nonprofit foundation and supported by the National Park Service. It sits right next to the National Archives and the Archives–Navy Memorial–Penn Quarter Metro station.

The history of the memorial goes back to the city planner Pierre L'Enfant, who proposed such a monument as early as the first days of American independence. It wasn't until the 20th century that the plan took concrete shape. After President John F. Kennedy launched an initiative to redesign the avenue, Admiral Arleigh Burke announced in 1977 that efforts to build the memorial were getting under way. Congress approved the project in 1980 on the condition that it be funded entirely by private donations. Construction began in 1986, and the central statue, "The Lone Sailor" by Stanley Bleifeld, was completed in 1987. The official dedication took place on October 13, 1987. A visitor center, later used as a museum, opened in 1991.

At the heart of the memorial is the Memorial Plaza, which represents the world's oceans in granite. This is where "The Lone Sailor" stands, as a tribute to the members of the sea services. The plaza is framed by two fountain pools honoring U.S. Navy personnel and the world's naval forces. The south side of the plaza is lined with 26 bronze reliefs commemorating historic events, notable figures, and communities of the seafaring world. Significant quotations from naval history are also engraved on the outer walls, reflecting the courage and determination of seafarers over the centuries. You can visit the memorial and the adjoining museum during regular opening hours, which vary by season.