Marine Corps War Memorial Monument

Address: Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial), Arlington Ridge Park, Arlington, Virginia (near Arlington National Cemetery)

Website: https://www.nps.gov/places/marine-corps-war-memorial.htm

Hours: Open 24 hours

Admission: Free

The Marine Corps War Memorial is a national monument in Arlington, Virginia, that commemorates all U.S. Marine Corps personnel who have died in service. The memorial’s bronze sculpture is based on the 1945 photograph of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The focal bronze group depicts six service members raising an American flag and stands on a landscaped plaza overlooking the Potomac and the Washington skyline. The site is frequented for memorial visits, ceremonies and views across to the national monuments in Washington, D.C.

Sculptor Felix de Weldon produced the bronze group inspired by Joe Rosenthal’s photograph; the memorial was formally dedicated in 1954. It has since served as an iconic remembrance site for Marine Corps ceremonies and public commemoration.

The memorial sits on a rise at the Arlington Ridge near the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, with clear views toward downtown Washington, D.C.

• Also called Iwo Jima Memorial: Commonly known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, it is sited to overlook Washington, D.C., making it a popular viewpoint at sunrise and sunset.
• Design origin: The bronze figures are larger than life and were modelled directly from the 1945 photograph by Joe Rosenthal that inspired the memorial’s design.

The Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) overlooks the Potomac in Arlington, VA, just north of Arlington National Cemetery and adjacent to the Netherlands Carillon. By Metro, take the Washington Metro to Rosslyn station (Blue/Orange/Silver lines) - it’s about a 10-15 minute walk (roughly 0.6-1.0 km) from Rosslyn along Memorial Drive/Marshall Drive to the memorial grounds. By car it is a short drive across the Arlington Memorial Bridge from downtown Washington, D.C. (about 1-2 miles/2-3 km); follow signs for Arlington National Cemetery/Netherlands Carillon and note limited on‑site parking.

• Visit at sunrise or around dusk for the best light on the sculpture and unobstructed skyline views of the National Mall across the Potomac-those times also tend to be less crowded for photos.
• Access the memorial on foot from the Arlington National Cemetery area or via the Arlington Memorial Bridge; the site is open 24/7 and free, so plan early‑morning visits to avoid midday tour‑bus crowds.
• Stand on the memorial plaza to take in the framed westward view over the Potomac toward the Washington Monument-it's one of the clearest vistas of the Mall but can fill up during weekends and official events.