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Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial

George Washington Memorial Parkway, Washington, DC

Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial with Red Tulips

During the spring and summer, flowers are planted in a large flower garden at the base of the memorial. They start in the spring with tulips.

Monuments & Landmarks
George Washington Memorial Parkway, Washington DC

The Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial (often called just the Navy Marine Memorial in its signage) is dedicated to Americans in the US Navy and US Merchant Marine who lost their life at sea in World War I.

Cast in aluminum–an innovation at the time–the main sculpture stands 35 feet tall and was dedicated in 1934.

The rather beautiful and evocative sculpture by Ernesto Begni del Piatta was originally designed to sit on a large base of polished green granite, but the original fundraising effort came up short, so it ended up on a bland concrete base instead, later replaced with a lower quality green granite base.1

The main part of the monument is surrounded by a wide flower bed that becomes a sea of red tulips in the spring.

Appropriately, it sits on the banks of the Potomac. Although it looks like it should be considered Arlington–it’s along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, is right next to the Pentagon, and you approach from Arlington–Columbia Island on which it stands, in Lady Bird Johnson Park, is technically part of Washington DC. The border between the two runs along the narrow channel separating Columbia Island from the mainland.

Photos of the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial

Navy-Marine Memorial in Arlington, VA, Front View

The flock of seagulls coasting above a wave.

Navy-Marine Memorial in Arlington, VA, Detail

A shield on the back of the monument.

Navy-Marine Memorial in Arlington, VA, Seagulls Against Blue Sky

Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial in Washington DC

With the Washington Monument across the other side of the Potomac.

Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial with Red TulipsNavy-Marine Memorial in Arlington, VA, with Trees

Navy-Marine Memorial in Arlington, VA, Dedication Plaque

The inscription on the base of the memorial reads: “To the strong souls and ready valor of those men of the United States who in the Navy, the Merchant Marine and other paths of Activity upon the waters of the world have given life or still offer it in the performance of heroic deeds this monument is dedicated by a grateful people.”

Navy-Marine Memorial in Arlington, VA, Seagulls in SilhouetteNavy-Marine Memorial in Arlington VA on the PotomacNavy-Marine Memorial in Arlington, VA, Cresting Wave

Ultra High-Resolution Panorama of the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial

With this ultra-high resolution panorama of the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial (1.36 gigapixels) you can zoom in significantly to view details.

Getting Here

The memorial is easily walkable from the Pentagon or the parking lots for the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove, Columbia Island Marina, or Gravelly Point. You can also walk there from Hains Point by walking over the 14th Street Bridge and turning right.

For Photographers

The memorial is accessible day and night (although not illuminated at night). There’s no problem using flash or a tripod.

Along with anything else in the George Washington Memorial Parkway, commercial shoots and filming require a permit.

More Photos

You can find more of my photos of the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial here, available for licensing.


  1. James M. Goode, Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation’s Capital (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008), 700. ↩

Nearby & Related:

  • Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington VA Silhouette
    Iwo Jima Memorial
  • USMC Silent Drill Team at the Sunset Parade at the Iwo Jima Memorial
    Marine Corps Sunset Parade at the Iwo Jima Memorial
  • Theodore Roosevelt Memorial with Plane and Sun
    Theodore Roosevelt Memorial
  • Sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial During the Equinox
    Lincoln Memorial
  • Pentagon Memorial with flowers
    Pentagon Memorial
  • Statue at the John Paul Jones Memorial in Washington DC
    Commodore John Paul Jones 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
Fodor's Washington D.C 25 Best 2021 (Full-color Travel Guide)
Fodor's Washington D.C 25 Best 2021 (Full-color Travel Guide)
  • Fodor’s Travel Guides (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
Lonely Planet Washington, DC (City Guide)
Lonely Planet Washington, DC (City Guide)
  • Lonely Planet (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.


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      # Monuments & Landmarks
      # George Washington Memorial Parkway
      # Washington DC



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.

Licensing Images

Looking for travel stock photos or prints? I might be able to help. You can search my collection here:

If you already have a buyer account with Alamy and would prefer to use that, you can search my images directly here.

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Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
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