National World War I Memorial

Located in Pershing Park, the World War I Memorial honors members of the armed forces who served in what was called the "war to end all wars." It occupies the entire footprint of the park and consists of a large sunken plaza featuring a pool and a wall where a relief mural called "A Soldier's Journey" will be installed in late 2023 or early 2024. In the center of the park is a half-circle stone structure featuring interpretive panels and a medallion in the middle. Just to the south of that is a memorial to General John J. Pershing (1860-1948), who commanded the Expeditionary Force. A statue of him stands near two walls, one of which features his name and the other with two battle maps. The park was first home to the American Expeditionary Forces Memorial, which was built in 1981 and reconfigured into the World War I Memorial in 2021 to honor all of those who served in the war, not only the Expeditionary Force.

The federal government acquired the property that is now Pershing Park in 1930 and tore down the existing buildings. Congress designated it Pershing Square in 1957 and several plans were proposed to build a memorial but it remained undeveloped until grass and flower beds were planted in 1963. The American Expeditionary Forces Memorial was designed in the 1970s and unveiled to the public in 1981. It was not intended to be an official national war memorial. The Pershing statue was created by artist Robert White and erected in 1983.

The planning and completion of the National World War II Memorial in the 2004 spurred the development of a national memorial for World War I. Some proposed that the District of Columbia War Memorial, which is dedicated to the service members from the District who fought in World War I, should be rededicated as a national memorial. However, others questioned the need for a memorial since there was already the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, which was built in 1926 to honor those who served in the war (it also included a museum). It was not an official national memorial, however. Eventually a compromised was reached; there would be two national memorials dedicated to the war. In 2014, the Liberty Memorial was rededicated as the National World War I Museum and Memorial and American Expeditionary Forces Memorial was redesignated as the National World War I Memorial. Architect Joseph Weishaar and sculptor Sabin Howard redesigned the park incorporating many of its original elements. It reopened in 2021.

"American Expeditionary Forces Memorial." American Battle Monuments Commission. Accessed January 10, 2023. https://www.abmc.gov/about-us/history/american-expeditionary-forces-memorial.

Campbell, Matt. "Liberty Memorial is officially the national memorial to World War I." The Kansas City Star. December 22, 2014. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article4835502.html.

"Kansas City's WWI memorial might be the national memorial." The Associated Press via the Columbia Missourian. October 23, 2008. Last Updated May 8, 2015. https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/kansas-city-s-wwi-memorial-might-be-the-national-memorial/article_f3ea8c2a-5aaa-5065-b3b7-025ab43b8b3b.html.

"Pershing Park." National Park Service. Last Updated October 15, 2018. Accessed January 10, 2023. https://www.nps.gov/articles/pershing-park.htm.

"World War I Memorial." National Park Service. Last Update April 16, 2021. Accessed January 10, 2023. https://www.nps.gov/places/world-war-i-memorial.htm.

"World War I Remembered." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed January 10, 2023. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=171292.