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Most Endangered Places
2003

Old Engine Company 6
Rutherford B. Hayes School
911-919 New Jersey Ave., SE
Carter G. Woodson House
Woodlawn Cemetery
Martin Luther King, Jr. Pub. Library
Anne Archbold Hall
St. Elizabeths
DC World War I Memorial
Uline Arena/Washington Coliseum
Corcoran Hunting Lodge
Capitol Park
Western Telegraph Company

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Most Endangered Places for 2003

DC WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL

WEST POTOMAC PARK AND NATIONAL MALL

ROUGHLY BOUNDED BY THE CAPITOL GROUNDS ON THE EAST, INDEPENDENCE AVENUE ON THE SOUTH, 15TH STREET ON THE WEST, AND CONSTITUTION AVENUE ON THE NORTH

HISTORY
Washington, D.C. residents built a Peristyle Doric Temple to memorialize local heroes who served the nation in World War One. Completed in 1931, the temple is located on the National Mall in West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. It was the first memorial on the Mall to list all D.C. residents who lost their lives in the war, regardless of their race, class, or gender. The D.C. War Memorial is the only local D.C. memorial on the National Mall. It was entrusted to the U.S. National Park Service. The memorial is forty feet in diameter and large enough to hold the 80-member U.S. Marine Corps Band.

The D.C. World War Memorial is a gemstone in the crown of local Washington, D.C. memorial architecture and civic pride. In a jurisdiction whose civic symbols are often overshadowed by the vast portfolio of architectural gems of the nation, the D.C. World War Memorial stands as a tribute to D.C.’s vision, its loyalty and honor to the nation, and an expression of love for the D.C. men and women who served and died for their nation

WHAT IS THE THREAT?
The historic integrity of the Mall as envisioned by Pierre L’Enfant in 1791 and the McMillan Plan of 1901-1902 is threatened by continuing pressures from Congress and special interest groups to approve new memorials and museums on its dwindling open space and alter landmarks for security purposes. This is taking place as existing, lesser known memorials are not maintained.

Though the D.C. World War Memorial continues to stand gracefully in a shady grove of trees, it has been neglected for decades. The memorial needs attention—both public attention and physical attention. It has been thirty years since it major work has been done on the memorial. It is in critical need of a complete structural evaluation. This year, the National Park Service (NPS) is testing new lighting in the interior dome, which it has connected to the original timer in the floor—the clock is still working.

The neglect is due in part to the fact that its history had been forgotten by most, both by the federal government and local D.C. citizens. The memorial has no signage or explanation except for that carved in the white marble. Part of the problem was that until recently, it seemed unclear who was responsible for maintaining the structure—the local D.C. government or the federal government. The NPS felt they had responsibility for the grounds but not the structure. A National Park Service Cultural Resource Specialist examined the records and determined that the memorial is the responsibility of the NPS.

DCPL’S RESPONSE
By placing the DC World War Memorial on the Most Endangered Places List, DCPL hopes to organize efforts to alert others to the significance of this site. Library.

The threat to the Mall is particularly acute because changes continue to move ahead despite protective legislation and agency directives. By placing the Mall on the Most Endangered Places list, DCPL is alerting both the citizens of Washington and of the nation to the threat to this unique historic and cultural resource.

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