Before and After Rehabilitation
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February 2020 Update:The U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial has been completely rehabilitated. The project included new engravings, cleaning and waxing of the memorial, brazing bronze seams and re-gilding letters and inscriptions on the sculpture base. Every inch of the 32-foot-tall statues of Marines raising the flag was examined. Holes, cracks and seams on the bronze sculpture were brazed to prevent water damage. June 2018 Update:The US Marine Corps War Memorial Access Road has been reopened! This marks the completion of the second phase in a three phase rehabilitation project. The first phase, the cleaning and rehabilitation of the memorial, was completed last November.
The US Marine Corps War Memorial is visited annually by about 1.5 million visitors. Many of these visitors arrive in buses that use the park access road. The new concrete roadway will be able to better withstand the amount of visitation and better accommodate special park uses, like the Marine Corps Marathon. All three phases were made possible by David Rubenstein’s generous donation.
Later this year, visitors to the memorial will see a rehabilitation of the grounds. This phase will improve the existing bollard pathway lighting to enhance the evening experience and improve visitor safety, as well as install new landscaping consistent with the historical design of the memorial. Additionally, new signs and waysides will be installed on the site.
The memorial will remain open to the public throughout this final phase, but there may be impacts to the visitor experience while work occurs at different parts of the site.
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B-Roll video of the rehabilitation work done on the USMC War Memorial sculpture and pedestal as well as a the engraving of Afghanistan and Iraq. November Update:As of November 2017 (National Veterans and Military Families Month), the National Park Service (NPS) has repaired and waxed the iconic Iwo Jima sculpture, re-gilded the engravings on the sculpture’s pedestal, and added the engravings of Afghanistan and Iraq to the pedestal. The engravings for Afghanistan and Iraq include only the years the campaigns began, 2001 and 2003, respectively. The U.S. Marine Corps History Division has advised to leave the dates open-ended with room to engrave end dates in the future. The USMC History Division has also provided criteria for future engravings. It is important to note that the memorial is a tribute to Marine Corps war dead in various campaigns over the Corps’ 242-year history. It is not intended to be a monument to Marines in general.
The complete site rehabilitation is made possible by a $5.37 million donation to the National Park Foundation from David M. Rubenstein and was a leadership gift to the National Park Foundation’s Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks. By fall 2018, the NPS expects to complete the project, which includes new lighting, landscaping, and infrastructure. This gift also provides the funding needed to enrich educational materials and park signs to teach visitors about the importance of the memorial. The next phase of work should be underway by spring 2018. The National Park Service will work with the U.S. Marine Corps to plan an appropriate re-dedication or grand opening event when the project is complete (expected fall 2018). Visitors are still able to walk close to the memorial as this work progresses. September, 2017:Work has begun on the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, sometimes referred to as the Iwo Jima Memorial. Scaffolding has been constructed around the memorial as contractors begin the process of cleaning the statue. Visitors are still able to walk close to the memorial as the work progresses. Construction began in August 2017 for the rehabilitation of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial. As of September 1, 2017, contractors have nearly completed constructing scaffolding around the entire statue. A condition assessment is being done prior to the cleaning of the bronze statue. It has been a few years since staff has been able to inspect the statue this closely. The next step will be the actual cleaning of the statue, scheduled to occur over the next couple months. ARLINGTON, Va. – A multi-million dollar project to rehabilitate the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, commonly referred to as the Iwo Jima Memorial, and improve surrounding parkland begins Tuesday, August 15, temporarily limiting some public access through February 2018. |
Last updated: July 9, 2021