Public Comment Period: Proposed Monumental Arch at Memorial Circle

Members of the public have the opportunity to provide input on a proposed Monumental Arch at Memorial Circle on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, near Arlington National Cemetery and along the Potomac River.

The location of the proposed Arch will interrupt the highly significant relationship between the Lincoln Memorial, across Arlington Memorial Bridge, to Arlington National Cemetery and Arlington House. One of the most symbolic landscapes in Washington, D.C., the vista was designed to represent the post-Civil War reconciliation of the north and south of the United States.

It is because this viewshed carries so much meaning to the country that the National Trust has raised concerns about the proposed Monumental Arch, whose scale, location, and design will disrupt this important visual and symbolic vista. In addition, the Arch will dwarf the Lincoln Memorial and disrupt the long, open, and uninterrupted viewsheds, overwhelming the entry to Arlington National Cemetery—the hallowed resting place of 400,000 veterans and their families and a powerful reminder of American military sacrifice, selfless service, and national unity, all within sight of the monumental core of the Nation’s Capital.

National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)

The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to review the project and hear public comments on plans for the proposed Monumental Arch on Thursday, June 4.

Your To-Do List

  1. Review the National Trust comments about this project to learn more about our concerns.
  2. Submit your comments to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). The deadline for public comments is Wednesday, June 3 at noon ET and we encourage you to submit early. See below for details.
  3. Mark your calendar to join the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) meeting on Thursday, June 4 at 1:00 PM ET. The proposed monumental arch will be on the agenda and the public can participate either online or in person. Visit ncpc.gov for details and the final agenda.

How to Register to Speak

  • Speaker Registration Deadline: Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at noon ET
  • Visit the NCPC participation page.
  • Select the blue “Register to Speak at a Meeting" button.
  • When completing the form, select "New Monumental Arch" from the "Select Projects" field dropdown.
  • The written version of your oral comments may be submitted as plain text or as a PDF.
  • You may also provide written comments only if you prefer. (see below).

How to Submit Written Comments

  • Public Comment Deadline: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at noon ET
  • Visit the NCPC participation page.
  • Select the blue “Submit Written Comments" button.
  • When completing the form, select "New Monumental Arch" from the "Select Projects" field dropdown.
  • Written comments may be submitted as plain text or as a PDF.
  • You may also register to speak at the meeting from the same participation page (see above).

How to Join the Meeting

  • Public Meeting: Thursday, June 4, 2026, beginning at 1:00 PM ET
  • The New Monumental Arch project is expected to be on the agenda.
  • NCPC will conduct this meeting in a hybrid format. The public and project applicants can participate in this meeting either online or in person.
  • In-person: Meeting attendees will be asked to sign in at the NCPC lobby. Visit ncpc.gov for location information.
  • Livestream: No registration is required to view the meeting online at https://www.ncpc.gov/live/.

Resources to Inform Your Comments

U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA)

  • The CFA reviewed a concept design proposal for the new Monumental Arch during the May 21 meeting and approved the overall building plans, while deferring their review of certain decorative sculptural elements.
  • Materials for this meeting including submitted documents are available on the CFA website.

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