Best Statuary in Washington, D.C.

By wasatch | Aug 18, 2021
North America > United States > Washington D.C.

Monumental cites such as most national capitals, have lots of monuments, many of which are statutes. Washington, DC is no exception. Perhaps the most famous statue in Washington DC is the Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial. However, that is not among the best statuary in the American capital city.

First place goes to Augustus Saint Gauden's statue of “Grief” in Rock Creek Park Cemetery. Ask for directions at the cemetery entrance on North Capitol St... Rock Creek Cemetery is more or less across the street from Catholic University and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a 20th C Byzantine basilica (fun fact: a basilica is a big Catholic church operated directly by The Vatican. A Catholic Cathedral is operated by the local Bishop).

Korean War Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Number 2 is a tie between The Korean War Memorial and Caspar Buberl's frieze on the Old Pension Building, now the National Building Museum. America's Civil War (1861 to 1865) killed more Americans that any other event in the nation's history until Republican president Trump's mismanagement of Covid 19. The Civil War killed about 165,000 per year, with a 4 year total of ~655,000. Covid 19 killed more than 500,000 in its first year. War on this scale involved most cannon fodder males, which created a nearly overwhelming number of post war pensioners. There were so many Civil War surviving veterans that the USA government had to build a large building to house the pension payment office. The frieze completely circles the building.

#3 is easily the contemporary “Man Rising” at the end of Ohio Drive (I cannot confirm it is still there, but I didn't spend much time searching).

#4 is the brooding monumental sized seated Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial, best seen at night.

#5 is Jefferson in the Jefferson Memorial

History North America Statue United States Washington D.C.

Share this tip:

Written by wasatch
1st international trip: 1965. ~57 EU vacations. Visited 6 continets. Extensive USA travel. You can email me at kb1942@yahoo.com

Thoughts? Questions?

See also

Accommodations

Tours and activities

Historical Charleston Walking Tour

Licensed Charleston Tour Guide, Mansions, Gardens , Rainbow Row, French Quarter, Churches, Historic Landmarks, Civil War History, Slave Trade History, Revolutionary War History...

NYC Bridge and River Bicycle Tour

The Bridge and River tour is a scenic 3-hour bicycle tour will take you from the Upper West Side of New York City up and over the George Washington Bridge for a ride along the river on Route 9W. Get the full touring experience and leave New York City for a few hours. During the ride, we make stops at Grants Tomb Memorial on the Upper West Side.