The 4,048 gold stars on the Freedom Wall are individual bronze-cast elements, not painted on.
The memorial uses 'Freedom Wall' stars to account for over 400,000 American military deaths during the conflict.
The Atlantic and Pacific arches are 43 feet tall, designed to frame the views of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.
Engineers incorporated the original Rainbow Pool fountain system into the memorial's design.
Bas-relief bronze panels depicting scenes of the war and home front activities wrap around the perimeter of the memorial.
The floor of the central plaza is paved with granite, designed to resemble a mosaic map of the world during the 1940s.
The National World War II Memorial serves as the primary commemorative site for the 16 million Americans who served in the armed forces and those who supported the war effort on the home front. It occupies 7.4 acres on the National Mall, situated between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The architectural design features 56 granite pillars surrounding a central plaza, each representing a U.S. state or territory during the war. Two triumphal arches anchor the north and south ends, dedicated to the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of operation respectively. A central sunken pool, the Rainbow Pool, sits at the heart of the site. A curved wall on the west side features 4,048 gold stars, with each star representing 100 American military deaths. The site is managed by the National Park Service as an open-air monument. It was dedicated on May 29, 2004.
From the center of the Atlantic or Pacific arches looking toward the Washington Monument.
Visit at night when the memorial is illuminated to see the inscriptions and water features without the daytime glare.
Walk the perimeter to view the distinct bas-relief bronze panels, which are often overlooked by visitors heading straight to the center.
Check the National Park Service website for the schedule of 'Honor Flight' arrivals, as veterans are frequently present at the site.
Attempting to swim or wade in the Rainbow Pool, which is strictly prohibited.
Maintain a respectful volume, as the site functions as a place of remembrance; no specific dress code, but respectful attire is standard.
