National Register of Historic Places

Peace Cross

Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland
Listed
September 7, 2015
Type
Object
Period
Listed
Ref No.
15000572

About this property

The Peace Cross is a World War I memorial located in Bladensburg, Maryland. Standing 40 feet (12 m) in height, the large cross is made of tan concrete with exposed pink granite aggregate; the arms of the cross are supported by unadorned concrete arches. Erected by 1925 in the memory of 49 local servicemen from Prince George's County who died during World War I, the base of the cross displays the words "valor," "endurance," "courage," and "devotion" as well as a bronze tablet listing the names of those lost in combat. The memorial was originally commissioned by the American Legion, but since turned over to be maintained by a commission within Maryland. This created an apparent conflict with the separation of church and state, and led to the Supreme Court case American Legion v. American Humanist Association in 2019 which decided the monument was built for secular purposes and had historical importance beyond the Christian symbolism, so there was no conflict for the state to maintain the monument.

Location

Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland
38.93930, -76.94031

Categories

ARTMILITARY
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Peace Cross

This page lists Peace Cross. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Peace Cross report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Washington, George, House (Additional Documentation)
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hilleary, William, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Market Master's House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Bostwick
Industrial
0.3 mi
Hilltop Manor
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Burning of Washington DC — Battle of Bladensburg
1814Early Republic
0.6 mi
Battle of Bladensburg
1814Early Republic
0.6 mi
Battle of Bladensburg (Burning of Washington)
1814Early Republic
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Peace Cross listed on the National Register?

Peace Cross was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 7, 2015.

What type of historic resource is Peace Cross?

Peace Cross is classified as a object in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Peace Cross?

The period of significance for Peace Cross is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Peace Cross?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Peace Cross will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Prince George's County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Prince George's County.

Explore Prince George'sCounty ›

More historic places in Maryland

Browse all historic places in Maryland.

View Marylandhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Maryland history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Marylandhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Peace Cross will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report