National World War II Memorial
An elliptical fountain plaza between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, with 56 stone pillars and 4,048 gold stars honoring American service members who fought in World War II.
Dedicated in 2004, the memorial sits on the Rainbow Pool along the National Mall's central axis. Arches on either side represent the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, and 56 granite pillars stand for the states and territories of the time. On the Freedom Wall, 4,048 gold stars each represent about 100 of the war dead. It is free and open 24 hours. Standing on the east side, you can photograph the Lincoln Memorial and its reflecting pool together, and the spot is the midpoint of the walking route along the National Mall.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
- Washington Monument
- Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial
- The White House