Korean War Veterans Memorial

Overview

The Korean War Veterans Memorial honors the 5.8 million Americans who served during the Korean War (1950–1953). Its centerpiece is a triangular field of 19 stainless steel soldier statues advancing through juniper bushes.

Highlights

• Stainless Steel Soldiers: 19 figures representing a squad on patrol, each over 7 feet tall and weighing about 1,000 pounds.
• Mural Wall: Polished granite wall with 2,400 photographic images of support troops sandblasted into the surface.
• Pool of Remembrance: A reflective pool inscribed with the war's human toll: 54,246 dead, 103,284 wounded.

History

Dedicated on July 27, 1995, the 42nd anniversary of the armistice. Designed by Cooper-Lecky Architects with sculptures by Frank Gaylord. A new Wall of Remembrance listing all 36,574 American dead was added in 2022.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: The soldiers' reflections in the granite wall appear to double their number to 38, representing the 38th parallel.
• Tip 2: Visit at dawn or dusk for dramatic shadows among the statues.
• Duration: 10–15 minutes.