National Trust for Historic Preservation: Return to home page

The U.S. Department of the Interior has submitted plans for a new proposed Monumental Arch at Memorial Circle on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, near Arlington National Cemetery and along the Potomac River.

One of America’s most sacred landscapes, the vista from the Lincoln Memorial, across Arlington Memorial Bridge, to Arlington National Cemetery and Arlington House communicates the magnitude of the Civil War, the obligation its unimaginable cost imposes on all Americans, and the aspiration of a post-Civil War reconciliation in a new birth of freedom.

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.

Since our nation’s founding, Americans have understood the symbolic power of Washington, D.C. Our capital city is a planned city. In their design, context, and relationship to each other, our most meaningful buildings and monuments communicate our system of government and the principles on which it is based. Achieving this requires deep respect for what has gone before and careful planning, in measured steps that honor our history and our aspirations.

National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)

The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to hear public comments and potentially vote on plans for the proposed Monumental Arch on Thursday, July 9.

This legally required federal review process is on-going and continued public participation is essential. If you previously submitted comments, please submit again. This is a new comment period.

Your To-Do List

1. Understand the concerns by reviewing comments from the National Trust and others about this project.
2. Submit your comments to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). The deadline for public comments is Wednesday, July 8 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) on Thursday, July 9 at 1 PM ET. The New Monumental Arch is the first action item on the agenda and the public can participate either online or in-person. Visit ncpc.gov for details and the final agenda.