What does the main bronze sculpture represent?

The sculpture represents the raising of an American flag on Mount Suribachi during the fighting on Iwo Jima.

What material is used for the base of the sculpture?

The base is made from Swedish black diabase granite and carries commemorative inscriptions.

Who was the sculptor of the monument?

Felix de Weldon designed and sculpted the monument, shaping a master model in plaster before bronze casting.

How was the construction of the memorial funded?

The project was funded through private donations from active Marines, veterans, and naval service supporters, with no public funds used.

What landmarks are situated adjacent to the memorial?

The site stands near the Netherlands Carillon and the Ord-Weitzel Gate of Arlington National Cemetery.

Washington · United States

Marine Corps War Memorial: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Tenants bordering Arlington Ridge Park exchange neighbourhood commercial convenience for protected federal parkland, timing daily walks by the Netherlands Carillon bells and ceremonial bugle calls from the cemetery gate.

Marine Corps War Memorial · CC BY-SA 4.0

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White House≈ 40 min Washington Monument≈ 40 min Jefferson Memorial≈ 40 min Smithsonian Institution≈ 50 min National Museum of Natural History≈ 50 min

About the place

The colossal bronze figures depict the Pacific flag raising above a base of polished Swedish granite.

The monument stands in Arlington Ridge Park beside Arlington National Cemetery and the Netherlands Carillon. Sculptor Felix de Weldon shaped the master model in plaster before artisans cast the bronze components in Brooklyn. The sculpture rests on Swedish black diabase granite quarried in Lönsboda. The composition depicts the flag raising on Mount Suribachi during combat operations in the Pacific theater.

Read on

Donations from active service members, reservists, and civilian supporters financed the monument without public funds. The National Park Service manages the grounds within the George Washington Memorial Parkway. By presidential proclamation, the national flag flies over the bronze grouping continuously day and night. Combat cameraman Bill Genaust filmed the Pacific flag raising on color motion picture stock alongside still photographers.

Associations

Mount SuribachiInspiration for the bronze sculpture showing the Pacific flag raising.
Lönsboda quarrySwedish source of the black diabase granite forming the monument base.
Netherlands CarillonNeighbouring musical landmark located adjacent to the memorial grounds.
National Park ServiceFederal stewardship limits commercial activity and enforces quiet hours.

Facts

Sculptor Felix de Weldon constructed a full-scale plaster model before artisans cast the bronze sections.
The base of the memorial is composed of Swedish black diabase granite quarried in Lönsboda.
Private contributions from military personnel and civilian supporters financed construction without public money.
A presidential proclamation mandates that the United States flag fly over the site continuously day and night.

Updated September 9, 2026Source: Wikipedia

Marine Corps War Memorial: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

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The colossal bronze figures depict the Pacific flag raising above a base of polished Swedish granite.

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