56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial
1800-1898 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible
- Open 24 hours
- Food & drink — Near Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Restrooms — Available near southwest corner of Constitution Gardens Pond, towards the Vietnam Women's Memorial and Reflecting Pool. Daytime hours vary
During the government shutdown, open-air Memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors. Restrooms, bookstores, gift shops, and information kiosk services may be suspended. For more information, please visit: doi.gov/shutdown.
The Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence is located in Constitution Gardens on Signers’ Island in the Constitution Gardens Pond.
Several years after the construction and dedication of Constitution Gardens itself, the 95th Congress authorized Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus to memorialize the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence on April 17, 1978. John Warner, former chairman of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission and later Virginia senator proposed the Memorial, using funds from money remaining from the Bicentennial celebrations conducted by the commission.
Accessible from the shore by a small wooden bridge, the Memorial was designed by the firm EDAW Incorporated and consists of fifty-six angled blocks of granite bearing the name, signature, profession, and hometown of a signer, grouped by home state. The stones are set up in an elliptical fashion on a cobblestone plaza.
History
Timeline of events
Construction of Constitution Gardens officially begins with designers Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, Inc. at the helm.
Constitution Gardens is dedicated as an American Revolution Bicentennial Project.
The 95th Congress passes HR 2960, authorizing Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus to memorialize the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence in Constitution Gardens.
Constitution Gardens is officially dedicated.
Ground is broken on the 56 Signers Memorial construction, with construction completed later that year.
The 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial is dedicated 208 years after the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence.
President Ronald Reagan issues a proclamation in honor of the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution, designating the gardens as a living legacy dedicated to the commemoration of the United States Constitution.
Restoration projects begin on Constitution Gardens in preparation for the semiquincentennial.
Key Features
Reflection Questions
High school learners: Our nation’s past is complex and often provokes reflection, especially as we look to the future.
Here are a few questions to inspire deeper thinking:
- What are some differences between the Declaration of Independence and other founding documents of the United States?
- Why is it important to study the signers of the Declaration?
- What are some of the political reasons why the timing of this Memorial’s creation in the seventies important?
Educational Activities
Other Resources
Interested in learning more? The following links will provide you with additional context and information: