B A C K G R O U N D FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT MEMORIAL         WASHINGTON, D.C.--The newest memorial in honor of an American president in the Nation's Capital was dedicated and opened to the public May 2, 1997. The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, designed by Lawrence Halprin of San Francisco, depicts Roosevelt's four terms as President, spanning 12 years of American history including the Great Depression and World War II. The four terms are expressed as four landscaped open-air "rooms" styled with sculpture, quotations and bas-relief inspired by period photographs. The artworks are set against a backdrop of red South Dakota granite walls softened by flowing water, trees and shrubbery.         THE ARTISTS AND THE ROOMS         The memorial features works by prominent American artists Leonard Baskin, Neil Estern, Robert Graham, Thomas Hardy, and George Segal. Throughout the memorial, many of FDR's most famous quotations are engraved in stone, the work of master stonecarver John Benson.         Room One sets the stage for FDR's presidency with a bold, high-relief bronze by Thomas Hardy, The Presidential Seal. A bas-relief by Robert Graham, The First Inaugural, depicts FDR waving from an open car.         Room Two captures the mood of the Great Depression in George Segal's The Fireside Chat, The Rural Couple and The Breadline, depicting the themes of HOPE, DESPAIR and HUNGER. Roosevelt's New Deal programs are recalled in a 30-foot-long bas-relief by Robert Graham, Social Programs, comprised of a wall of images which faces an arrangement of five columns that bear the same images in negative form.         Room Three, in which the granite is reduced to rubble, symbolizes the havoc of war. The room is dominated by a 9-foot tall sculpture by Neil Estern, FDR and Fala, in which FDR is shown seated with a cape around his shoulders, his dog at his feet.         Room Four mourns Roosevelt's death in a 30-foot-long bronze bas-relief by Leonard Baskin, The Funeral Cortege, his bier on a caisson pulled by horses with mourners following. Neil Estern's Eleanor Roosevelt, depicting the first U.S. Delegate to the United Nations, represents the first sculpture of a First Lady in a commemorative work in Washington, D.C. A dramatic waterfall symbolizes peace at the end of World War II. The room also includes a timeline of landmark events in FDR's life carved in the granite step risers.         Lawrence Halprin is celebrated for environmental designs ranging from large-scale land developments to small private gardens. He has said of his design of the FDR Memorial, "The narrative is told through the unfolding of the experience, through FDR's personal quotations inscribed in granite, through sculptural vignettes of major moments in his administration, and through the fountains which reflect the president's lifelong involvement with water. Perhaps most importantly, the concept included the intention that people would continue to revisit this magnificent site and find enjoyment there as well as an appreciation of a life and a time dedicated to courage, vision, and leadership for our country."         Leonard Baskin, widely known as a master printmaker, draftsman, and book designer, is perhaps most highly acclaimed for his sculpture. His forms are taken, not only from the world around him, but also from the world of the past through his knowledge of history, and from the world of his imagination and literary expertise.         John Benson designed the letter form and carved the inscriptions that appear throughout the Memorial's rooms and linking passageways. Benson is widely recognized as one of America's leading designers and carvers of lettering in stone.         Neil Estern. The portrait and figurative sculptures of Neil Estern attempt to go beyond a mere recording of physical characteristics. His work captures the energy or the repose, the tidiness or the rumple, the wrinkles, the tilts, the gestures and body language -- those details that animate a specific personality with a presence as unique as a fingerprint. Robert Graham has been described in keeping with a long line of brilliant representative sculptors dating back to the Renaissance. When he began work on this project in 1977, he was known for his gallery work, museums shows, and innovative casting techniques. Since then, he has devoted much of his career to expanding his work into monumental bronze pieces, cast by his own production team.         Thomas Hardy says of his welded bronze sculptures, they "involve as subject matter many aspects of the natural world in semi-abstract expressions." He feels a special indebtedness to the world's prehistoric cave paintings for their sense of lively simplicity and movement, aspects which he embodies in his sculptures and drawings.         George Segal first came to public attention during the late 1960s with his life-sized figures set among ordinary objects. His work is best known for subject matter that depicts and memorializes the common man and everyday occurrences. His method of sculpting provides him with pliant, hollow forms that serve as the basic structure for his compositions. Through his work, Segal seeks to illuminate philosophical, psychological truths about these naturalistic figures, their action, and their times.         HISTORICAL BACKGROUND         Concepts for a memorial to FDR date as far back as 1955. In 1969, the site was named Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Park by Presidential Proclamation 3891. The memorial was authorized by Congress in July 1982. Ground was broken September 16, 1991. In 1992, an earth berm was constructed on site so that the ground would be able to accept the weight of the future memorial without settling. During 1994, Ohio Drive was widened to allow two-way traffic and West Basin Drive was reconfigured.         The $19.2 million construction contract to build the memorial was awarded on September 29, 1994, to the William B. Walsh Construction Company of Rockville, Md. The $52 million park was constructed with Federal funds totalling $42 million. The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission in October 1994, launched a fund-raising campaign for $10 million to complete the memorial.         VISITING THE MEMORIAL         The memorial is located on West Basin Drive, off Ohio Drive SW., just west of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin. The main entrance and book store is on West Basin Drive. Pedestrians also can enter the memorial from the east side Cherry Blossom walk. The memorial is operated with park rangers on duty 8 a.m. until midnight, daily, except Christmas Day.         The visitor center has a replica of a wheelchair used by Franklin Roosevelt, a display of pictures on the social history of Roosevelt and a store with books, souvenirs and gifts. The book store, open 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., daily, is operated by Parks & History Association, a cooperating association of the National Park Service.         Public restrooms are located at the entrance of the memorial and on the south side of the memorial nearest the Jefferson Memorial.         The memorial is accessible to those with physical disabilities. Wheelchairs are available for loan to visitors who may have difficulty walking through the memorial.         PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION         Park in front of the memorial on West Basin Drive or on Ohio Drive. Buses are allowed to park along the curb of Ohio Drive. Additional parking is 5-10 minutes away on Ohio Drive in Lots A, B and C.         Handicapped parking space is set aside at locations on West Basin Drive in front of the memorial (handicapped designated plate, placard, or permit required). Additional handicapped parking spaces are located in Lots A, B and C.         The closest METRO rail stop is SMITHSONIAN station, Independence and 12th street SW, about a half-hour walk away from the memorial. FOGGY BOTTOM station, 23rd and I Streets, NW., is about as far away to the north as SMITHSONIAN is to the east. Both stations are on the Blue and Orange lines. ARLINGTON CEMETERY, on Memorial Drive, is the closest station in Virginia on the Blue line. It is close to paid parking at Arlington National Cemetery. Park there, then walk across the Memorial bridge to Independence and Ohio Drive, again, about a half-hour walk.         Metrobus No.52 and No.13 stop at 14th and Independence Avenue. From there, walk about 1/2 mile to the Memorial Site.         Tourmobile, sightseeing service on the Mall, stops at the memorial. The site can be visited only on the all-day tour which costs $12.00. A water taxi stop is located near the intersection of Ohio and West Basin Drives.         DO'S AND DON'TS         Climbing on the walls and waterfalls is not allowed. Signs are posted for no wading, but visitors are allowed to dangle feet in the water. Activities that are dangerous or inappropriate in the memorial setting will not be allowed.         Signs prohibit food and drink, skateboarding, roller skating, in-line skating, smoking and running. Bicyclists must walk their bikes and pets must be kept on leash.         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION         For further general information, contact park rangers at Mall Operations at (202) 426-6841. The book store telephone is 202-376-6700. revised 8/26/97 FDR-MEM.BG5