Navy – Merchant Marine Memorial, Maritime memorial in Lady Bird Johnson Park, Washington, D.C.
The Navy – Merchant Marine Memorial is a structure in Lady Bird Johnson Park featuring an aluminum sculpture of a cresting wave topped with seven seagulls. It stands approximately 35 feet (11 meters) tall and 30 feet (9 meters) wide on a base of green granite.
Congress approved the memorial in the 1920s following World War I, when Marion Thurber Denby established the Navy and Marine Memorial Association. Construction took place years later to commemorate those lost at sea.
The memorial honors those from the Navy, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and NOAA who died while serving at sea. Visitors can read the inscribed names and understand the role these workers played in the nation's maritime history.
The memorial is accessible via the Mount Vernon Trail, which offers walking and cycling paths along the Potomac River. Visitors can easily spend time here while exploring the surrounding parkland and enjoying the riverside location.
This was the first aluminum memorial structure built in Washington, D.C., showcasing innovative construction methods of its era. The green granite base comes from New Hampshire, creating an unexpected regional connection.
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