Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

Related people

Lawrence Halprin (was created by)
Leonard Baskin (was created by)
George Segal (was created by)

Date

1997 (completed)

Location

North and Central America->United States->District of Columbia->Washington

Description

Designed by Lawrence Halprin and dedicated in May 1997, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial incorporates the work of prominent American artists Leonard Baskin, Neil Estern, Robert Graham, Thomas Hardy, and George Segal, as well as master stonecarver (epigrapher) John Benson. The memorial is divided into four outdoor galleries, or rooms, one for each of FDR's terms in office. The rooms are defined by walls of red South Dakota granite and by ornamental plantings; quotations from FDR are carved into the granite. Water cascades and quiet pools are present throughout. A sculpture of the Presidential seal is mounted inside the entryway. The first room introduces FDR's early presidency. In the second room, sculptural groups -- an urban breadline, a rural couple, and a man listening to a fireside chat -- recall both the despair and the hope of the times. In the third room, Roosevelt appears as a seated figure; his beloved dog Fala sits nearby. The fourth room honors the life and legacy of FDR. A sculptural relief of Roosevelt's funeral cortege hangs in an alcove. The statue of Eleanor Roosevelt commemorates her role as First Lady, as well as her later work as United Nations delegate and champion for human rights. In the plaza is a timeline of important dates and events from the life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Keywords: United States, District of Columbia, Washington, outdoor spaces, stone, rock, engraved text, granite. Submitted by Goldie Ludovici.

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