US Navy Memorial

The stone plaza features fountains, artwork depicting scenes from naval history.

NPS / Claire Hassler

Quick Facts

Location:

Washington, DC

Amenities

2 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Public Transit

A memorial to the United States Navy had always been part of Pierre L'Enfant's plan for Washingon, DC. However, it wasn't until 1987 that the US Navy Memorial was dedicated. The memorial design features a lone sailor in the midle of a granite sea surrounded by low, stone walls containing 26 bas-relief sculptures illustrating the history of the Navy and the sea services.

Inscriptions

Entry steps, north side
ETERNAL FATHER STRONG TO SAVE
WHOSE ARM DOTH BIND THE RESTLESS WAVE
WHO BIDDST THE MIGHTY OCEAN DEEP
ITS OWN APPOINTED LIMITS KEEP
O, HEAR US WHEN WE CRY TO THEE,
FOR THOSE IN PERIL ON THE SEA
Navy Hymn, Eternal Father, 1860
Side benches
SIGHTED SUB. SANK SAME.
Aviation Machinists Mate 1/c Donald F. Mason, January 28, 1942
Aviation Pilot
THE SEA IS AN UNNATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR MAN, AND IT TAKES SOMETHING EXTRA FOR MEN TO LIVE WITH IT
Paul H. Nitze October 27, 1965
UNDER WAY ON NUCLEAR POWER
Commander Eugene P. Wilkinson, Commanding USS Nautilus, January 17, 1955
WITHOUT A DECISIVE NAVAL FOCE
WE CAN DO NOTHING DEFINITIVE.
AND WITH IT EVERYTHING HONOURABLE AND GLORIOUS
General George Washington - Letter to Lafayette, November 15, 1781
WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND THEY ARE OURS
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, September 10, 1813
I WISH TO HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH ANY SHIP THAT DOES NOT SAIL FAST, FOR I INTEND TO GO IN HARM'S WAY
Captain John Paul Jones, November, 1778
Bas reliefs, left to right
UNITED STATES NAVY EXPLOSIVE ORDINANCE DISPOSAL
Bomb Disposal "Initial success...or total failure" Mine Disposal
Sculptor Leo C. Irrera
A diver swims underwater beneath mines set above him. Sailors float in a raft above.
NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALIONS
"Seabees Can Do"
Sculptor Leo C. Irrera
A soldier with no shirt and rifle slung over his shoulder directs construction work of other soldiers below him.
THE NAVY FAMILY
"They Who Wait Also Serve"
Sculptor Robert Lamb
Women with babies and children wave to sailors standing along the edge of an aircraft carrier.
US NAVY SUPPLY CORPS "SERVICE TO THE FLEET"
USS ARLEIGH BURKE - USS SUPPLY
Sculptor Gilbert A. Franklin
A ship floats next to a larger ship. Ropes connect the two ships and a helicopter above carries a storage box hanging by a cable.
NAVY CHAPLAINS
"Eternal Father Strong to Save"
Sculptor Klara Sever
Sailors stand on the deck of a battleship, heads bowed, in front of a chaplain.
ADMIRAL DAVID FARRAGUT - MOBILE BAY - 1864
"Damn The Torpedoes - Full Speed Ahead"
Sculptor Robert Summers
Smoke billows from an ironclad ship in rough seas. A sail ship sits directly to the right with men on the deck.
NAVAL AVIATION - FIRST SHIPBOARD TAKEOFF
Eugene Ely - Hampton Roads - 1910
Sculptor Giancarlo Blagt
Two row boats with groups of about one dozen men each look above as a double-winged glider flies above them. The front corner of a large ship sits to the left.
INLAND NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS
US Navy River Operations - Vietnam
Sculptor Serena Goldstein Litofsky
A soldier lies on the ground in a bunker with his machine gun and a soldier stands aiming his machine gun from a tripod. Two ships approach them along a river through jungle on both sides.
THE SILENT SERVICE "Clean Sweep"
WWII Submarine Patrol Returns
Sculptor Stanley Bleifeld
Men stand on the deck of a submarine in the foreground as a submarine approaches. In the distance three submarines are lined together along a naval station.
NAVAL AIRSHIPS
"They Were Dependable"
Sculptor Miklos Simon
Two men sit in a cockpit. The sailor on the right looks back from his seat behind a circular steering wheel. A blimp floats above the sea in front of them.
NAVY MEDICINE
"Standing By To Assist"
Sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez
A male and female soldier tend to a wounded man on the ground from a ship adorned with a medical cross. Four other sailors stand behind them, two on the right reach for a phone. A helicopter flies by smoke billowing from a mountain in front of them.
NAVAL RESERVISTS
"Twice A Citizen"
Sculptor Leo C. Irrera
A sailor stands on a dock as a man walks behind him holding his military uniform. A second man approaches a walkway to a ship, also holding his military uniform.
NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE
US Navy SEALs..."Failure is not an option"
Sculptor Leo C. Irrera
Two soldiers in the right foreground wait at the edge of a jungle as men in scuba gear emerge from the ocean. Four men in the distance parachute down toward the water as a helicopter turns away from them.
ENGINEERING DUTY OFFICERS
"Sharpening the Point of the Spear"
Sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez
A man and woman in construction helmets look at a paper along with a person in military uniform on a dock. A ship and submarine docked behind them are being loaded with supplies by a rig.
WOMEN IN THE NAVY
On Shore, In The Air And At Sea
Sculptor Serena Goldstein Litofsky
Two military women on either side of a man look at a document on board a ship. A military woman looks back at them from among other people at work on the ship.
THE GREAT WHITE FLEET - 1907
"Speak Softly And Carry A Big Stick"
Sculptor Gilbert Franklin
A man in long coat and rimmed glasses tips his top hat to a steam-run battleship. A man in formal military uniform stands behind him from a balcony.
NAVY ASTRONAUTS AND RECOVERY MISSIONS
A Contribution To The U.S, Space Age
Sculptor Robert Summers
A man sits atop a buoy in the sea as two men in flippers and swim goggles hold on below. A raft of men approaches and a helicopter with a hanging rope flies above.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Amphibious Assault - Inchon - 1950
Sculptor Fred Press
A soldier with helmet and rifle stands from a ladder above a boat crowded with other soldiers below him. A second soldier to the left also stands atop a ladder in front of a sea filled with boats behind them.
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Semper Paratus - "Always Ready"
Sculptor Robert Summers
A boat approaches two people floating in rough seas as another boats sways in the background. A helicopter with a hanging basket flies in the background.
EXPLORATION, OCEANOGRAPHY, RESEARCH
Navy Lieutenant Charles Wilkes In Antarctic - 1840
Sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez
A tall sail ship floats in the background as two men in coats stand on the left shore with a dog to the right. Penguins gather on rocks in the sea behind them.
US MERCHANT MARINE - US NAVY ARMED GUARD
"We Deliver"
Sculptor Robert Lamb
Smoke billows from a ship far off in the sea and from a plane angling toward the water. A second plane flies beside it. Two solider is a gun turret aim a machine gun toward the planes and two soldiers in the foreground look on.
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY - ANNAPOLIS
Ex Scientia Tridens - "From Knowledge, Sea Power"
Sculptor Miklos Simon
Men in military uniform walk along a walkway and two salute in the foreground as men march in line around a statue on both sides behind them. A woman and child approach from the left and a wide building sits in the background.
DESTROYER ESCORTS
"Trim But Deadly"
Sculptor Gilbert A. Franklin
A fleet of destroyers sails from right to left across the sea.
OPENING JAPAN FOR COMMERCE
Commodore Matthew Perry - 1854
Sculptor Leo C. Irrera
A woman, children and men stand along a brick wall in front of a large curved trees. Row boats approache land from the sea on the left. Tall sail ships sit in the distance as a crowd of people gather on the land.
CAPTIAN JOHN PAUL JONES
"...In Harm's Way"
Sculptor Fred Press
A man in colonial military uniform and tricorn hat on the deck of a ship raises his hand to his face to shout. Men behind him work the riggings of the ship and tend to the ship's canon aimed toward a ship in front of them.
L ST - LANDING SHIP TANKS
Fondly Known As Large Slow Targets
Sculptor Leo C. Irrera
Tanks emerge from the hull of a ship along a beach head. A man in the foreground moves sandbags as a man to the right looks back with binoculars. Men move takers on the beach below along with a pickup truck and a second ship sits offshore with its hull front door open.
center benches
KUWAIT
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
AUSTRALIA
REPUBLIC OF FRANCE
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
TO SHIPMATES FROM OTHER LANDS
THE WATERS THAT DIVIDE US, UNITE US
SPAIN
REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Entry steps, south side
ANY MAN WHO MAY BE ASKED...WHAT HE DID TRO MAKE LIFE WORTHWHILE...
CAN RESPOND WITH A GOOD DEAL OF PRIDE AND SATISFACTION.
"I SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY."
President John F. Kennedy, 1963