Albert Einstein Memorial

This memorial sits at the corner of the National Academy of Sciences.  It was unveiled on April 22, 1979 during one of the Academy’s annual meetings, on centennial of the scientists birth.  This twelve foot tall figure of Einstein is seated on a three step bench of white granite.  He holds a paper in his hand with mathematical equations that led to three of his most important scientific contributions; the photoelectric effect, theory of general relativity, and the equivalence of energy and matter. 

The sculptor was Robert Berks, who was already known for his portrait busts of John F. Kennedy at the Kennedy Center.  He based this sculpture on a bust of Einstein that he sculpted in 1953.  The landscape architect, James A. Van Sweden, used emerald pearl imported from Norway, and over 2700 metal studs inserted to portray the stars, moon, and the sun.  They were positioned by astronomers from the U.S. Naval Observatory, being in the correct spot as they were on the dedication date.