Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!
DC Trip 2024➤
Our congressman came through with tickets to visit the White House in October of 2024. So my husband and I took a long weekend to visit Washington, DC. He hadn’t been to many of the sites, so we spent a few days visiting the various National Park Service units. We toured several memorials, monuments and other sites, including the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.
The National Mall➤
The National Mall stretches from the Capitol to the Potomac River. It serves as “America’s Front Lawn” and its premiere civic and symbolic space. Originally in the L’Enfant plan for the city, the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit of the NPS protects iconic monuments and memorials and over 1,000 acres of greenspace.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial➤
After visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, we continued our walk around the Tidal Basin to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is designed as a journey through his four terms in office, with each section focused on a central theme. Water features, sculptures, and engraved quotes are integrated throughout, creating a narrative that reflects both his achievements and the challenges he faced, including the Great Depression and World War II.
Four Terms➤
The first term section, marked by the phrase “Nothing to Fear,” reflects Roosevelt’s steady leadership as he reassured Americans during the depths of the Great Depression. Quotes etched in the stone remind visitors of his famous fireside chats and his ability to instill confidence in uncertain times.
The second term highlights his efforts to combat economic hardship. Sculptures of men in a breadline and a farmer listening to a radio capture the struggles of the era while also emphasizing New Deal programs that aimed to restore dignity and stability to everyday life.
The third term centers on World War II and carries the theme “I Hate War.” Here, water cascades over large blocks of stone, symbolizing the turbulence of the conflict. The quotes and imagery make it clear how deeply Roosevelt wished to avoid war, even as he led the nation through it.
The fourth term looks ahead with the theme of the United Nations. This section celebrates Roosevelt’s vision for lasting international cooperation. It stands as a reminder of his global legacy and his hope for peace after such a destructive conflict.
Scattered throughout the memorial are other notable features: a statue of Eleanor Roosevelt standing before the United Nations emblem, the beloved family dog Fala, and a statue of FDR in a wheelchair. That last addition came in 2001, when disability rights advocates successfully pressed for a depiction that showed his disability openly.
2024 DC Trip Posts➤
- WWI Memorial
- The White House
- White House Tour Pt 1
- White House Tour Pt 2
- Lockkeeper’s House
- Martin Luther King Memorial
- FDR Memorial
- Jefferson Memorial
- Korean War Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- Constitution Gardens
- Washington Monument
- Mary McLeod Bethune Council House
- Rock Creek Park
- Supreme Court
- Capitol
- Library of Congress
- Theodore Roosevelt Island
- George Washington Parkway
- LBJ Memorial Grove
- Ford Theater
- Belmont-Paul
- Frederick Douglas
Location: 1850 West Basin Dr SW, Washington, DC
Designation: National Memorial
Date designated/established: May 2, 1997
Date of my visit: October 24, 2024
Good to see the wheelchair statue, but sad that it took so long to show that aspect of his life.
True, Mr. P! Thank you for reading and commenting 😊