World War 1 National Memorial

Heroes’ Green was selected through an anonymous international design competition for the National World War I Memorial at Pershing Park on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House. Conceived as a hybrid of memorial, park, and garden, the design uses dramatic topography to create an immersive landscape while providing separation from the surrounding city. Rolling landforms recall the trenches of World War I, with monumental bronze walls emerging from the landscape to tell the story of the war through historical themes. Paths rise and descend through the landscape, revealing views toward the Washington Monument and surrounding city. A park pavilion, gathering spaces, lawns, gardens, and overlooks support everyday use while connecting the memorial to Washington’s civic landscape. The result integrates remembrance with public life, creating a memorial experienced through movement, landscape, and history.