Women in Military Service for America Memorial
More photographs at the Wikimedia Commons category.
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
- 0.6 mi off the George Washington Memorial Parkway, National
- 6.1 mi off the Old Georgetown Pike
- 6.2 mi off the Booth's Escape
- 7.5 mi off the Star-Spangled Banner Byway
Overlooks nearby
Named places within 25 miles
- Memorial Gate Fountain: 0.0 mi
- Lock 0: 1.3 mi
- Old Stone House: 1.6 mi
- Lockkeeper's House: 1.7 mi
- White House Peace Vigil: 2.1 mi
- 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
- Rising Star: 0.8 mi
- The Family: David, Haggit, and Adoniyya: 0.8 mi
- Cupid's Garden: 0.9 mi
- Chicago Titan: 0.9 mi
- Star Chart: 0.9 mi
- Fort Bennet Park and Palisades Trail: 1.4 mi
- Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary: 1.8 mi
- Ballston Wetland Park: 2.7 mi
- Lubber Run Park: 2.8 mi
- Potomac Overlook Regional Park: 3.0 mi
- Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove: 1.0 mi
- Presidential Grove: 1.0 mi
- Floral Library: 1.7 mi
- German-American Friendship Garden: 1.8 mi
- Big Red One: 1.8 mi
- 101st Airborne Division: 0.1 mi
- John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame: 0.2 mi
- Edward "Ted" Kennedy: 0.2 mi
- Pierre Charles L'Enfant: 0.2 mi
- 4th Infantry Division: 0.2 mi
- Peters Hill: 1.3 mi
- Mackeys Hill: 1.3 mi
- Lees Hill: 2.1 mi
- Georgetown Heights: 2.3 mi
- Camp Hill: 2.7 mi
- 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
- 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
- Rosier Bluff: 7.9 mi
- Indian Queen Bluff: 9.2 mi
- Indian Head: 20.0 mi
- Quartz Rock Outcropping: 23.0 mi
- Possum Nose: 24.9 mi
- Stubblefield Falls: 9.1 mi
- Scott's Run Falls: 9.3 mi
- Great Falls: 12.7 mi
- Coe Creek: 19.2 mi
- 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.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gantt Hill | WNW 289° | 156 m | 9.3 mi |
| Hunting Hill | NNW 334° | 156 m | 15.6 mi |
| Black Hill | NNW 330° | 148 m | 24.4 mi |
| Mount Daniel | W 280° | 144 m | 6.2 mi |
| Minor's Hill | WNW 287° | 140 m | 5.0 mi |
| Freedom Hill | WNW 287° | 140 m | 9.8 mi |
| Prout Hill | W 269° | 137 m | 6.7 mi |
| Upton Hill | W 262° | 125 m | 4.2 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:13 | 18:45 | 19:20 |
| June solstice | 05:44 | 19:58 | 20:38 |
| September equinox | 06:57 | 18:32 | 19:07 |
| December solstice | 07:24 | 16:08 | 16:50 |
Local time (America/New_York).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 38 | 40 | 48 | 58 | 67 | 76 | 81 | 79 | 72 | 61 | 50 | 42 |
| Precip in | 2.9 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 3.4 |
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.
OpenStreetMapWikidataOpenStreetMap element way/118662869
Day trips start here
Take the scenic way to Women in Military Service for America Memorial.
Byway plans around your taste, mapped places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.