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United States Air Force Memorial

Arlington, Virginia

US Air Force Memorial in Arlington VA F-16 Etched in Glass

In one section of the memorial is a free-standing glass panel. This illustration of an F-16 is etched into it and catches the light at the right angle.

Monuments & Landmarks
Arlington VA, Military

The United States Air Force Memorial, in a small, raised space between Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon, was opened in October 2006. And being so tall and distinctive, you can see the memorial from miles around. The catch, though, is that it’s not the easiest of Washington’s monuments to get to.

During the planning stages, its location was controversial–originally, a different design of a large star with an underground visitors’ center was planned for between the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Netherlands Carillon, but that raised loud objections for a host of reasons. So a new location was chosen which had the added advantage of not requiring any height restrictions, thereby allowing the new design that we see today. Another advantage was that it placed the memorial right next to Fort Myer, where Orville Wright first demonstrated the wonders of flight to the military brass in 1908.1

The design is by James Ingo Freed, who also designed the Holocaust Museum on the National Mall and the Reagan Building on Pennsylvania Avenue. The core of the memorial consists of three tall towers of steel-plated concrete; the tallest of the three towers is 270 feet high. It’s intended to evoke one of the signature moves of the Air Force Thunderbirds, known as the bomb burst maneuver, as well as the traditional “missing man” formation often used at Air Force funeral flyovers where one plane peels off from the others. At their base, off to one side, are four bronze statues titled Air Force Honor Guard.

Photos of the US Air Force Memorial

United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington, Virginia.

US Air Force Memorial Plaque

US Air Force Memorial Spires

US Air Force Memorial Spires

US Air Force Memorial in Arlington VA F-16 Etched in Glass

US Air Force Memorial Spires

United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington, Virginia.

United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington, Virginia.

United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington, Virginia.

Potomac and the Air Force Memorial

United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington, Virginia.

United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington, Virginia.

United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington, Virginia.

Statue at the US Air Force Memorial

United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington, Virginia.

For Photographers

The Air Force Memorial closes at night. It is, however, illuminated at night, but not evenly, so it’s tricky to get a good evening shot of it.

You’ll want to take a wide-angle lens with you if you want to get the full monument in the frame. The memorial’s grounds are quite compact, so it’s not easy to wander back to get a little further away.

Getting Here

It’s not as easy as one would hope to get to the Air Force Memorial. The nearest metro stop is the Pentagon stop (1.0 mile) on the Blue and Yellow lines or Pentagon City stop (1.0 mile) on the Blue and Yellow lines. Unfortunately, there are some major roads to traverse if you’re walking and it’s not especially pedestrian-friendly if coming from either of those stops. If you’re driving, there’s parking across the street from the memorial.


  1. James M. Goode, Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation’s Capital (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008), 674-75. ↩

Nearby & Related:

  • Pentagon Memorial with flowers
    Pentagon Memorial
  • Rose Garden in Arlington Virginia Peach and White
    Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden
  • Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC
    The Jefferson Memorial
  • Vietnam Memorial, Washington DC, at Sunrise
    Vietnam Veterans Memorial
  • Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Winter Mists Reflection
    Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
  • George Mason Memorial Reflection in Washington DC
    George Mason Memorial

Washington DC Visitor Guides

If you're coming in from out of town, here are some of the most popular guidebooks that can help you make the most of your visit.

Fodor's Washington, D.C.: with Mount Vernon, Alexandria & Annapolis...
Fodor's Washington, D.C.: with Mount Vernon, Alexandria & Annapolis...
  • Fodor's Travel Guides (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
Check Price on Amazon
Lonely Planet Washington, DC (City Guide)
Lonely Planet Washington, DC (City Guide)
  • Lonely Planet (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
Check Price on Amazon
Frommer's EasyGuide to Washington, D.C. 2020
Frommer's EasyGuide to Washington, D.C. 2020
  • Pratt, Meredith (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
Check Price on Amazon
A History Lover's Guide to Washington, D.C.: Designed for Democracy...
A History Lover's Guide to Washington, D.C.: Designed for Democracy...
  • Fortier, Alison (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
Check Price on Amazon

And here are some interesting options for less traditional guidesbooks if you'd like an emphasis on exploring DC on foot or diving into some of the region's rich history.

National Geographic Walking Washington, D.C. (National Geographic Walking...
National Geographic Walking Washington, D.C. (National Geographic Walking...
  • NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
  • Kennedy, Barbara Noe (Author)
Check Price on Amazon
A History Lover's Guide to Washington, D.C.: Designed for Democracy...
A History Lover's Guide to Washington, D.C.: Designed for Democracy...
  • Fortier, Alison (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
Check Price on Amazon

David Coleman Photography

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit.


Location: United States Air Force Memorial
Coordinates:
      Latitude: 38.868510
      Longitude: -77.066254

      # Monuments & Landmarks
      # Arlington VA
      # Military



About David Coleman

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living.

I’m based in Washington, DC.

You can find more of my work at havecamerawilltravel.com.

And if you’re visiting DC in the spring, be sure to check out my DC Cherry Blossom Watch site.

David Coleman Photography

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.

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