Military Women’s Memorial

The only major memorial of its kind in the United States (and the world), it showcases the service of women who have defended America from the Revolutionary War to the present.

As the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service, the facility educates and inspires through innovative and interactive exhibitions, world-class collections and engaging programs and events. Opened in 1997, it honors the commitment, contributions and experiences of every woman who serves in, or with, the Armed Forces.

Preserving Women’s Stories

Three million women have served in the military since the founding of the republic. From the story of Molly Pitcher, who served with the Continental Army during the Revolution, to the women serving today, America’s military women have long demonstrated courage, patriotism and leadership. But their stories were overlooked for too long.

The memorial, therefore, serves a key role in recording and preserving those stories, which would otherwise be lost to history and unknown to future generations. To do this, it created a register as a repository of information that documents their service and records their collective history.

Visitors can look up servicewomen via a one-of-a-kind interactive computer database, which preserves the names, service information, memorable experiences, awards and decorations, and photographs of more than 300,000 servicewomen registered over 30 years. Although it’s likely the largest repository related to military women in the world, this number represents less than 10 percent of all the women who have served.

Memorial Design

The memorial’s award-winning design was executed by New York architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi, whose mother was a World War II Army nurse. It’s full of historically significant and symbolic features that tell a story themselves.

Start with the façade, which incorporates a historic semicircular retaining wall originally intended as the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. Further, the memorial sits on the historic line that connects the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington House — symbolically linking the North and South after the Civil War and represented by a trail of pavers running from the Lincoln Memorial up the center of Memorial Bridge and Memorial Drive. The pavers extend onto the Court of Valor with a reflecting pool and a 200-jet fountain representing the sound of women’s voices. The runnel connecting the pool and fountain projects the line through the Great Niche and into the memorial, where it is visually continued by a band of polished black granite leading to the Register Room. The individual stories of women’s military service can be found on this historic line.

An arc of glass tablets etched with quotations by and about military women act as skylights running the entire length of the exhibit gallery with 16 exhibit alcoves for permanent and rotating shows. As the sun passes overhead, the quotations reflect down onto the gallery walls inside the memorial.

Four stairwells leading to the upper terrace breach the original wall and symbolize women breaking through barriers in the military. From the terrace, you can take in stunning views of the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery as well as the memorial’s signature arc of glass tablets.

The Vaught Center serves as a multipurpose event space, gift shop and the Hall of Honor that recognizes servicewomen who were killed in action, died in the line of duty, held prisoner of war, or were recipients of our nation’s highest awards for service and bravery.

Events

The memorial hosts panel discussions, film screenings, exhibits and other programs. Every Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the Court of Valor is the site of formal military honors, and a woman from each military service tells her story and pays tribute to women who have served before.

How to Visit

The Military Women’s Memorial is accessible from Arlington Cemetery Metro. Parking is available at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitor Center parking facility located on Memorial Avenue.