56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial

Constitution Gardens was built in part to commemorate the bicentennial of American independence, and this memorial on Signers Island honors the men who risked everything to sign the Declaration of Independence. Granite stones include facsimiles of their signatures, the location of their homes, and their occupations.Designer: EDAW, Inc.InscriptionsBridge, land sideA MEMORIAL TO THE 56 SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCEA GIFT FROMTHE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONBICENTENNIAL ADMN

• (502 words) Constitution Gardens is a park area in Washington, DC, located at the west end of the National Mall. The fifty-acre (200,000 m²) park is bounded on the west by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, on the east by 17th St NW, on the north by Constitution Avenue, and on the south by the Washington Monument Reflecting Pool. There are a number of access points into the park along gravel pedestrian walkways on the 17th and Constitution Avenue sides, and from the midpoint and east end of the Reflecting Pool. A one thousand-foot long, four hundred-foot wide shallow, hourglass-shaped lake sits to the west, which includes an island with a weeping willow tree that juts into the lake from its north side. A gravel walkway surrounds the entire lake and walkways lead down to the park from various points around the block. Trees ring the lake and lawn areas on east, west and north sides. A fifty-foot long, twelve-foot wide, flat wooden bridge carries onto the island from the north side of the lake. There are no railings on either side. A plaque set in granite at the north side of the bridge is adorned with a bronze star. Text below is inscribed to read: A memorial to the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. A gift from the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration 1976. A granite walkway at the south end of the bridge leads twenty feet to a semi-circular stone wall, about three feet high and forty-five feet long on each side. A circular cobblestone plaza fills the space, which is open to the lake at the south side of the island. The cobblestone stretches seventy feet east and west along the edge of the lake. At the walkway's north end by the wood bridge, an inscription in italics on the granite path reads: In Congress, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America. An inscription at the south end of the walk reads: And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. Three steps lead down to the plaza area. Set in the plaza at its north end is a bronze star, bracketed by an inscription of two roses connected by an interwoven line design above. The curved wall consists of two rows of pink granite blocks. Each is inscribed on its smooth top surface with gold signatures, and names, occupations, and states of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The thirteen original colonies are inscribed along the plaza at the base of each granite block. In the center is inscribed "Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." Two thirty-foot tall weeping willow trees sit on the east and west sides of the island, and smaller trees line the plaza area. A two-foot tall stone retaining wall snakes around seventy-five feet from the plaza to the east and west, about twenty feet south of the lakefront. END OF DESCRIPTION

Concessions - Constitution Gardens

Food may be puchased at this kiosk, run by a concessionaire to the National Park Service, Guest Services, Inc. Restrooms are nearby to the west.

• A small outdoor kiosk selling goods. The kiosk is in front of a small lake surrounded by trees!

Constitution Gardens

Constitution Gardens was built to commemorate the bicentennial of American independence as well as to the document that established the United States' governement, as we know it today. <br />Inscriptions<br />Plaque, north of bridge<br />A MEMORIAL TO THE 56 SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE<br />A GIFT FROM<br />THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION<br />BICENTENNIAL ADMINISTRATION<br />1976<br />

• (472 words)<br />Constitution Gardens is a park area in Washington, DC, located at the west end of the National Mall. The fifty-acre (200,000 m2) park is bounded on the west by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, on the east by 17th St NW, on the north by Constitution Avenue, and on the south by the Washington Monument Reflecting Pool.<br />There are a number of access points into the park along gravel pedestrian walkways on the 17th and Constitution avenue sides, and from the midpoint and east end of the Reflecting Pool.<br />The east side of the park features an elevated one hundred square foot gravel plaza area. Ramps at the north and south sides lead down to Constitution Gardens below. Set in between the ramps is a three-tiered viewing area separated by three-foot tall, eight-foot wide stone walls. Three trees sit in each of the platforms.<br />A one thousand-foot long, four hundred-foot wide shallow, hourglass-shaped lake sits to the west, which includes an island with a weeping willow tree that juts into the lake from its north side.<br />A gravel walkway surrounds the entire lake and walkways lead down to the park from various points around the block. Trees ring the lake and lawn areas on east, west and north sides.<br />A fifty-foot long, twelve foot-wide, flat wooden bridge carries over the lake and onto the island from the north side. There are no railings on either side. A plaque set in granite at the north side of the bridge is inscribed to read:<br />A MEMORIAL TO THE 56 SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE<br />A GIFT FROM<br />THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION<br />BICENTENNIAL ADMINISTRATION<br />1976<br />A granite walkway on the south side of the bridge leads twenty feet to a semi-circular stone wall, about three feet high and forty-five feet long on each side. A cobblestone plaza fills the space, which is open to the lake at the south side of the island. The cobblestone stretches seventy feet east and west along the edge of the lake.<br />The curved wall consists of two rows of pink granite blocks. Each is inscribed on its smooth top surface with a gold signature, and a name, occupation, and state beneath. City and state names are inscribed along the plaza at the base of each granite block.<br />A two-foot tall stone retaining wall snakes around seventy-five feet from the plaza to the east and west, about twenty feet south of the lakefront.<br />Further west along the lake, weeping willow trees sit on the north side of the gravel walkway. At the far west end of the lake sits an octagonal shaped one-story building, providing drinks and refreshments. Facing back to the east from this location, the Washington Monument sits in the distance, its image reflecting off the still lake water along with the surrounding trees, blue sky and clouds above.<br />END OF DESCRIPTION<br />

• Visit the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial
• As you walk through Constitution Gardens, walk across the footbridge to Signers Island. The stones of the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence could have been tombstones had events turned out differently. Celebrate these men of courage and vision at our nation's founding by paying homage to these 56 American heroes!    Granite stones include facsimiles of their signatures, the location of their homes, and their occupations.