US National Memorials are structures or areas protected under federal laws, dedicated to the memory of a person or event with national significance. They are managed by the National Park Service or organizations and are free to the public. Approval by Congress is required, and there are 44 memorials, with 14 in Washington, DC. They honor famous people, tragedies, and military conflicts.
In the United States, a National Memorial is a structure or area designated as protected under federal government laws. Each US National Memorial is dedicated to the memory of a person or event with some sort of historic significance to the country’s people, government, or military. In order for something to be designated a National Memorial, it must have relevance that transcends a single state or group of people and have social significance on a national scale. Places that feature a historical person or historical event in a single area are usually selected and operated by a state rather than the federal government. Each is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
All US National Memorials are considered the property of the American people, rather than an individual or business. Most of these places are manned by the National Park Service, although some are managed by organizations dedicated to preserving the memory of the subject. Most are free to the public or accept small donations, making them popular tourist attractions for both Americans and foreign visitors. The cost of maintaining these monuments and memorials generally comes from taxpayer dollars.
To be selected as a National Memorial, the site must be approved by the United States Congress. There are 44 different monuments and places that have been dedicated over the years. Sometimes these memorials are planned, with the government building a monument to pay tribute to a person or situation. Other times, these sites are simply selected after a tragedy or nation-changing event, often at the actual location of the event. While memorials are located throughout the country, including one in the Northern Mariana Islands Territory, 14 are located in the District of Columbia, the nation’s capital. Most of these are located on the National Mall, an outdoor park in central Washington.
Many national monuments are named after famous people in US history, such as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Others are devoted to tragedies that have befallen the United States such as the Oklahoma City bombing and Flight 93, the plane that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. Still others depict military conflicts such as the Second world war, korea and vietnam.
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