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Women in Military Service for America Memorial

Women in Military Service for America Memorial is a historic site in Virginia, at a modelled elevation of 23 m. Gantt Hill stands 156 m to the west-northwest, 9.3 miles off. The nearest named place is Memorial Gate Fountain, a attraction less than a tenth of a mile away. George Washington Memorial Parkway passes 0.6 miles off. 37 named summits stand within 25 miles.

The story

The Military Women's Memorial, also known as the Women In Military Service For America Memorial, is a memorial established by the U.S. federal government which honors women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. The memorial is located at the western end of Memorial Avenue at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia. The Military Women's Memorial Foundation, which operates the memorial, is run by Phyllis J. Wilson. The structure that houses the memorial was originally known as the Hemicycle and was built in 1932 to be a ceremonial entrance to the cemetery. It never served this purpose, however, and was in disrepair by 1986. Congress approved the memorial in 1985, and the Hemicycle approved as the site for the memorial in 1988. An open design competition was won by New York City architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi. Their original design was leaked to the public and caused significant controversy. Two years of fund-raising and design revision followed. A revised preliminary design was approved in July 1992, and the final design in March 1995. Ground was broken for the memorial in June 1995, and the structure was dedicated on October 18, 1997. The memorial is notable for its successful mixing of Neoclassical and modern architecture. The memorial largely retained the Hemicycle but added a widely praised skylight on the Hemicycle terrace that incorporates not only memorials to servicewomen but also acts as a transition to the memorial below. Construction of the memorial, however, generated a lawsuit when a nearby pylon (part of the gateway to the cemetery) was damaged. Raising funds to pay off the construction debt incurred by the memorial took several years.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q8031470, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

How to reach it

Coordinates38.88261, -77.06854

Named places within 25 miles

Attractions
Historic sites
  • 101st Airborne Division: 0.1 mi
  • Richard Evelyn Byrd: 0.2 mi
  • John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame: 0.2 mi
  • Robert F. Kennedy: 0.2 mi
  • Edward "Ted" Kennedy: 0.2 mi
Gardens
Parks
  • North Meade Street Park: 0.6 mi
  • Fort Meyer Heights Park: 0.7 mi
  • Dark Star Park: 0.7 mi
  • Three Oaks Park: 0.8 mi
  • Belvedere Park: 0.8 mi
Artworks
Nature reserves
Picnic sites
  • Picnic site for Rose park: 1.8 mi
  • Troy Park: 2.6 mi
  • Fletcher's Cove: 3.0 mi
  • Area 2: 3.9 mi
  • Area 1: 4.0 mi
Peaks: 37
Beaches: 7
  • Fishing Shore: 2.5 mi
  • Lake Barcroft Beach: 5.0 mi
  • Purplehorse Beach: 11.4 mi
  • Sycamore Beach: 11.5 mi
  • Beaver Landing: 23.8 mi
Springs: 5
  • Takoma Spring: 7.1 mi
  • Silver Spring: 7.7 mi
  • Clean Drinking Manor Spring: 8.1 mi
  • Indian Springs: 12.4 mi
  • Sandy Spring: 18.0 mi
Waterfalls: 4
  • Stubblefield Falls: 9.1 mi
  • Scott's Run Falls: 9.3 mi
  • Great Falls: 12.7 mi
  • Coe Creek: 19.2 mi
Rest areas: 4
  • Manassas Safety/Rest Area West: 23.5 mi
  • Manassas Safety/Rest Area East: 23.5 mi
  • Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Area North: 23.8 mi
  • Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Area South: 23.8 mi

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 25 miles of Women in Military Service for America Memorial. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Gantt HillWNW 289°156 m9.3 mi
Hunting HillNNW 334°156 m15.6 mi
Black HillNNW 330°148 m24.4 mi
Mount DanielW 280°144 m6.2 mi
Minor's HillWNW 287°140 m5.0 mi
Freedom HillWNW 287°140 m9.8 mi
Prout HillW 269°137 m6.7 mi
Upton HillW 262°125 m4.2 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:1318:4519:20
June solstice05:4419:5820:38
September equinox06:5718:3219:07
December solstice07:2416:0816:50

Local time (America/New_York).

Climate normals

Months averaging 5080 °F: Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F384048586776817972615042
Precip in2.92.63.53.23.94.24.33.33.93.72.93.4

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Washington Reagan Natl AP, 3 mi away.

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikidata

OpenStreetMap element way/118662869

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