Dwight D. Eisenhower was the 34th president of the United States and the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in World War II . During his presidency, "Ike" worked to contain the spread of Communism around the globe, developed the interstate highway system, and famously used the military to enforce the integration of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. The memorial reflects Eisenhower's leadership roles as general and as president. On the right side of the mem
1513 words.Welcome to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. This 4-acre, park-like landscape is dedicated to the celebrated 5-star General and 34th President of the United States. Elements of Eisenhower's life, from boyhood to WWII to the U.S. Presidency, are incorporated in the forms of sculpture, engraved words, and landscaping. As you visit, you are welcome to touch the statuary and reliefs, stand next to the statues, but not to climb on any of the other elements of the memorial.The memorial is located on a rectangular plot of land, the long sides bounded on the north by Independence Ave and the National Air and Space Museum across the street and on the south by the LBJ Department of Education Building, and the short sides on the east by 4th St and on the west by 6th St. The core of the Memorial is a rectangular plaza with two sculptural groups depicting Eisenhower as General and President. It is accessed by two walkways in the shape of a wide V stretching from the northern corners to the plaza at the center of the southern edge. A narrow limestone plaza hugs the eastern edge of the memorial along 4th St. The bookstore, information center, and public restrooms sit at the southern end of this plaza.Six stone columns on the south edge and one in each northern corner, measuring 80 feet tall and 10 feet wide, frame the space. A woven metal tapestry, measuring 60 feet tall by 447 feet long, runs vertically across the front of the southern columns. The tapestry is made of pale silver mesh screen welded with dark, thick wire that depicts an abstract line drawing of the cliffs in Normandy. In order to see the full picture, the tapestry is best seen from a distance. The stonework in the memorial is a light, sandy-colored limestone from Spain, streaked with dark brown and reddish hues. Features made of this stone include the columns, walkways, benches, and sculpture bases. Entering from the northwestern corner at Independence Ave and 6th St, we first approach a sculpture of Eisenhower as a young teenager growing up in small-town Kansas. He sits on a 3 foot tall block of stone centered in the walkway just outside the space framed by the columns. The sculpture is bronze, but with a light green patina. He sits facing south, slightly relaxed, but his head is turned left, gazing toward the center of the memorial. The bangs of his tousled hair hang almost to his eyebrows. His knees are drawn up, left foot tucked behind the right, and his arms wrap around his knees. His right hand lightly clasps his left wrist. Young Eisenhower is dressed in overalls and a long-sleeved collared shirt, wrinkled by his posture, and laced work boots.In front of the boyhood statue is a rectangular block of stone engraved with the introduction of General Eisenhower's Homecoming Speech, given in Abilene, Kansas on June 22, 1945.As we walk toward the core of the memorial, the northwestern column is on our left. About six feet above the ground, on the south-facing side, there are five 5-pointed metal stars. They are arranged in a pentagonal pattern, with touching points, as could be seen on a ranking 5-star general's uniform. Below the stars is engraved "General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, 1944-1945".Continuing, benches are spaced along the edge of the walkway. Beyond, trees and grasses common to the Kansas landscape are planted. Halfway towards the core of the memorial, a swath of grass 45 feet wide bisects the landscaping, stretching diagonally from the southwestern to northeastern corner. This strip of grass illustrates the historic path of Maryland Ave SW, which continues beyond the edges of the memorial. Looking to the left, the Capitol dome is framed between the memorial's shade trees.At the central core of the memorial is the limestone plaza and the two main sculptural groups. Arranged near the south side, the two sculptural scenes depict Eisenhower's professional careers. Both scenes mimic a stage: bronze statues stand on a raised stone platform, and a stone block rises 15 feet behind the statues as a backdrop. Atop the vertical block, a second block atop each platform is angled in toward the viewer with an inscription. The scenes are angled towards the center of the plaza, standing about 60 feet apart. Centered beyond the two scenes is a 40-foot-long inscription of DWIGHT D EISENHOWER on a six-foot-high wall. Between the wall and sculptural scenes is a walkway, allowing visitors to walk fully around the two stone and bronze scenes. The woven metal tapestry hangs vertically beyond the plaza. The Department of Education Building is seen between the wall and the lower edge of the tapestry.In the right-hand scene, six uniformed military men stand in two groups facing General Eisenhower to the right; a group of two to the far left and a group of four in the center. Their combat fatigues are rumpled, standing in stark contrast to the general's pressed service uniform. They
Dwight Eisenhower returned to Abilene on June 22, 1945 to a parade welcoming him home and honoring his leadership in Europe during World War II. After watching the celebration, his grateful acceptance of the recognition began with the above quote. He went on to say that this parade was not just for him; he was only a "symbol" of the soldiers, sailors and airmen who helped bring Allied victory.
A marble stone etched with the words "Because no man is really a man who has lost out of himself all of the boy, I want to speak first of the dreams of a barefoot boy. Frequently, they are to be of a street car conductor or he sees himself as the town policeman, above all he may reach to a position of locomotive engineer, but always in his dreams is that day when he finally comes home. Comes home to a welcome from his own home town. Because today that dream of mine of 45 years or more ago has been realized beyond the wildest stretches of my own imagination, I come here, first, to thank you, to say the proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene. Abilene, Kansas June 22, 1945"
On the right side of the memorial core, Eisenhower as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II is commemorated by a bronze heroic-sized statue with sculptures of his soldiers inspired by the famous photograph with the 101st Airborne Division before their jump into France. Behind the sculptures is a bas relief depicting the Normandy landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
On the right side of the memorial core, Eisenhower as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II is commemorated by a bronze heroic-sized statue with sculptures of his soldiers inspired by the famous photograph with the 101st Airborne Division before their jump into France. Behind the sculptures is a bas relief depicting the Normandy landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
On the left side of the memorial core, the bronze heroic-sized statue of Eisenhower as 34th President of the United States places him at the center of the White House Oval Office flanked by sculptures of civilian and military advisors, symbolizing the balance Eisenhower struck between conflicting demands of national security and peaceful progress. The bas-relief global background depicts a map of the world symbolizing Eisenhower's role as a world statesman and preeminent inte
The bronze heroic-sized statue of Eisenhower as 34th President of the United States places him at the center of the White House Oval Office flanked by sculptures of civilian and military advisors, symbolizing the balance Eisenhower struck between conflicting demands of national security and peaceful progress. The bas-relief global background depicts a map of the world symbolizing Eisenhower's role as a world statesman and preeminent internationalist pursuing universal peace.
Under the design direction of architect Frank Gehry, artist Tomas Osinski has created a stainless-steel tapestry for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. The tapestry depicts the Pointe du Hoc promontory of France’s Normandy coastline during peacetime and serves as a symbol of the peace Eisenhower sought and won as Supreme Allied Commander during World War II and maintained and nurtured as 34th president. Although the artistic feature draws inspiration from historic tapestry.
On a pedestal at the northwest plaza entrance, a life-size sculpture of Eisenhower as a young man depicts the trajectory of his life as the quintessential American story. Inscribed in stone nearby is an excerpt from Eisenhower's Abilene Homecoming Speech on June 22, 1945.
A life-size statue of President Eisenhower as a young man.
World War II Weekend at Eisenhower National Historic Site
Join Eisenhower National Historic Site in commemorating the events of 1944 for our 2024 World War II Weekend Event, taking place September 20-22. This annual event features a large living history camp, family activities, guest speakers, ranger programs, tours of the Eisenhower home and Gettysburg National Cemetery, and more.
Tours
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Tour the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
See all the points of interest at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. Enter the memorial at the nearest intersection on 6th and Independence Ave SW to begin the tour.
