National American Indian Memorial

The National American Indian Memorial is an unfinished monument at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island overlooking New York Harbor. The concrete foundation and partial structures remain visible on the site today, showing the scale of what was originally envisioned.

Construction began in 1913 with official ceremonies and continued for several years before World War I disrupted funding and materials. The project never resumed after wartime shortages made completion economically unfeasible.

The site was meant to honor Native American contributions to American society through dedicated gallery spaces, though this vision never came to fruition beyond the initial excavation.

The ruins are located within Fort Wadsworth, which requires visitors to navigate the military grounds to reach the abandoned site. Access can be limited at certain times, so planning ahead ensures you can view the remains and surrounding landscape.

The monument was designed to blend Egyptian Revival and Neo-Aztec architectural styles, creating an unusual fusion never before attempted at this scale. This distinctive design combination, visible only in original blueprints and models, represents a fascinating architectural experiment that was never built.

Location: New York

Inception: February 22, 1913

Founders: Rodman Wanamaker

Architects: Thomas Hastings

Creator: Daniel Chester French

GPS coordinates: 40.60490,-74.05660

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:02