Rich in Water and Inscriptions
The FDR Memorial is rich in the use of water and inscriptions. Made entirely of red South Dakota and Minnesota granite, the site includes 21 quotes from FDR. Landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, FASLA, considered the memorial to be the pinnacle of his career, referring to it as “the apotheosis of all that I have done.”
Image: American Society of Landscape Architects
In Winter
Fountains are turned off in the winter, but snow may create a unique environment.
Image: National Park Service
Stone Waterfalls
Blocks of stone and waterfalls characterize much of the memorial.
Image: American Society of Landscape Architects
An Accessible Monument
New Deal programs are represented in sculptural columns. As a nod to Roosevelt’s disability, the memorial was the first monument in Washington, D.C. to be intentionally designed as wheelchair accessible. The memorial even incorporates Braille in a series of sculptures.
Image: American Society of Landscape Architects
One Room for Each Term
Halprin’s design consists of a series of four outdoor rooms with sculptures, fountains, and inscriptions representing a narrative of Roosevelt’s four terms as president. Water is a leitmotif, not only signifying Roosevelt’s personal connection with water being raised near the Hudson River, serving as a sailor and then Secretary of the Navy, and enjoying hot springs later in life. It also effectively controls air traffic noise.
Image: American Society of Landscape Architects
The Pervasive Sound of Flowing Water
Water effectively deadens the sound of aircraft; large jumbled stones take the quote I HATE WAR and illustrate the chaos of war.
Image: American Society of Landscape Architects.jpg)
A Rural Couple
A Depression-era rural couple evokes the despair of the times.
Image: National Park Service
An Interactive Memorial
Sculpture was designed to be interactive and visitors often join the breadline.
Image: National Park Service.jpg)
Depression-era Breadline
A close-up of the Depression-era breadline.
Image: American Society of Landscape Architects
Statue of Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Halprin’s original design controversially did not depict FDR in a wheelchair. Halprin argued that Roosevelt should be depicted without the wheelchair, as that is how he appeared in public during his life. Eventually, Halprin added a fifth room, a “prologue” with a sculpture of FDR in his wheelchair.
Image: National Park Service
Fala
FDR's dog.
Image: National Park Service
New Deal Programs as Sculpture
Series of sculpture that represents the New Deal programs. The panels are also placed on nearby columns.
Image: American Society of Landscape Architects
Inscribed Quotations
The memorial is rich in quotations on the tall walls of each of the memorial rooms.
Image: American Society of Landscape Architects