The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial stands on the West Basin Drive side of Washington, DC, at 1850 West Basin Dr SW, close to the Tidal Basin. It is an outdoor memorial to the 32nd president, and it is often listed under the shorter name, the FDR Memorial.
What you will see
The memorial is laid out as a sprawling series of four outdoor galleries. Each gallery represents one of FDR's presidential terms, so walking through the site follows the arc of his time in office in order. The grounds are open, and you move between the galleries at your own pace.
Along the way you will find:
- Waterfalls that run through the spaces and give the memorial its sound and movement
- Sculptures placed among the galleries
- Quotations from Roosevelt carved into the stone, so his own words accompany each section
What kind of visit it makes
This is a place for a slow walk rather than a quick look. Because the galleries are spread out, allow time to move from one to the next and to read the quotations. It suits visitors interested in American history, in the presidency, or in memorial design, and it is a calm break from busier parts of the city.
Around the memorial
The memorial sits in the Tidal Basin area, so a visit pairs naturally with a stroll around the water and with other monuments nearby. If you are planning ahead, the site can be reached by phone at +1-202-426-6841.
