Washington, DC’s Constitution Gardens – Dedicated to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Mostly overlooked by visitors to the National Mall, a memorial to the 56 signers of The Declaration of Independence and Founding Fathers of the United States, is located at Constitution Gardens. In the center of Washington, DC’s National Mall, it’s dedicated to the 56 men who risked everything for America’s freedom from Britain.

The beautiful 50-acre (200,000 m²) park, between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial was originally under the waters of the Potomac River. In the early 1900s, the land was dredged, filled in and used by the US Navy where the Federal government erected the Main Navy and Munitions Buildings (see below) in 1917 due to World War I. 

The “temporary” buildings were in use until 1970, when President Richard Nixon announced that the buildings would be demolished, and the land turned into a garden.  The demolition made room in the National Mall for Constitution Gardens and Lake, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the west. 

Constitution Gardens was dedicated in 1976, as part of America’s Bicentennial celebration. The memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial, located on the small island in the middle of the lake was dedicated in 1982.  Four months later, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was also dedicated within Constitution Gardens.

The small memorial to the 56 signers of The Declaration of Independence features gold signatures of each signer inscribed in stone with their occupation and home town.

The park and island is a great place for a quiet walk or sit in quiet reflection, along with providing great views of the Washington Monument. 

Each year the National Park Service hosts an annual ceremony for newly naturalized American citizens at the gardens.

Nearby in the park, a planned memorial to slaves and freed men and women who fought in the American Revolutionary War is expected to be erected across the lake from the Declaration of Independence Memorial.  

Declaration of Independence Memorial
Constitution Gardens
Constitution Avenue, between 18th &19th, NW
Washington, DC‎  (map it)

Dates & Times – Open daily dawn to dusk

Tickets – Free

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Smithsonian – Orange Line, then a 5-block walk, or use the DC Circulator bus.

Parking – Limited metered street parking and area paid garage parking is available.

Images – Navy & Munitions Building – public domain, all others from personal collection  ©2009, Jon Rochetti 

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