National Register of Historic Places

Arlington Memorial Bridge

Washington, District of Columbia County, District of Columbia
Listed
April 3, 1980
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80000346

About this property

The Arlington Memorial Bridge (often shortened to Memorial Bridge) is a Neoclassical masonry, steel, and stone arch bridge that crosses the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. First proposed in 1886, the bridge went unbuilt for decades thanks to political quarrels over whether the bridge should be a memorial, and to whom or what. Traffic problems associated with the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in November 1921 and the desire to build a bridge in time for the bicentennial of the birth of George Washington led to its construction in 1932. Designed by the architectural firm McKim, Mead, and White, decorated with monumental statues depicting valor and sacrifice by sculptor Leo Friedlander, and cast by Ferdinando Marinelli Artistic Foundry of Florence, Italy, Arlington Memorial Bridge defines the western end of the National Mall. The central section, a bascule (drawbridge) which had not been used since 1961, was replaced in 2018 by one which does not open.

Location

Washington, District of Columbia County, District of Columbia
38.88807, -77.05922

Categories

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREENGINEERINGARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Lincoln Memorial
Industrial
0.5 mi
Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial
Listed
0.6 mi
Hillandale-Main Residence and Gatehouse
Civil War
0.6 mi
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Modern
0.6 mi
American Institute of Pharmacy Building
Early Republic
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

September 11 Pentagon Attack
2001Modern
1.1 mi
September 11 Attacks — Pentagon
2001Modern
1.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Arlington Memorial Bridge listed on the National Register?

Arlington Memorial Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Arlington Memorial Bridge?

Arlington Memorial Bridge is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Arlington Memorial Bridge?

The period of significance for Arlington Memorial Bridge is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Arlington Memorial Bridge?

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