For America’s sea services, the United States Navy Memorial is thetriumph of a centuries-old dream.  In the early days of America’snational independence, architect  Pierre L'Enfant envisioned a memorialin the Nation’s Capital to “to celebrate the first rise of the Navy andconsecrate its progress and achievements.''  But it was only in thetwentieth century that L’Enfant’s vision of a Navy Memorial inWashington, D.C. was realized.

Pennsylvania Avenue,“America’s Main Street,” the boulevard that links the U.S. Capitol andWhite House, the scene of so many parades, pageants, and nationalmemories, was chosen to be the location.

AfterPresident John F. Kennedy – himself a Navy war hero – inspired theredevelopment of Pennsylvania Avenue, another Navy war hero, AdmiralArleigh Burke, proclaimed in 1977 that “we have talked long enoughabout a Navy Memorial and it's time we did something about it.''  Burkeand several Navy colleagues got busy: They founded a non-profitorganization, the United States Navy Memorial.

In1980, under the Presidency of Rear Admiral William Thompson, USN(Ret.), the United States Navy Memorial sought and received theblessing of Congress to construct a Navy Memorial on public land in theDistrict of Columbia.  Working with the Pennsylvania Avenue DevelopmentCorporation, the Foundation selected Market Square, across the streetfrom the National Archives, as the Navy Memorial’s site.

Construction began in December 1985, and the Memorial was dedicated twoyears later on October 13, 1987, the 212th birthday of the UnitedStates Navy.  “The Navy Memorial is new,” said Admiral Thompson, “butit is rich in tradition and heritage that parallel the history of theNavy and the history of the United States.”