Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Park History

The memorial was built in honor of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. President Roosevelt served four terms as the President, from 1933 to 1945. Roosevelt is widely considered to be one of the most important figures in American history, as well as among the most influential figures of the 20th century.

The memorial is spread over 7.5 acres of land. It is set up in a sequence of five outdoor rooms. Four of the rooms represent each of his presidential terms in office. The fifth room is named the Prologue room because it was added after the completion of the memorial. There are numerous sculptures throughout the memorial and 21 quotes of the president throughout the memorial. There are several iconic statues through the memorial. Two of President Roosevelt One of the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt which depicts her involvement with United Nations. There is even a statue of the President’s beloved Scottish terrier dog Fala. Each room tells a story of what was happening in American during each of his terms from the New Deal through World War II. Waterfalls are throughout the memorial going from gentle and quite to wild and roaring. The water falls an important physical and metaphoric component of the memorial. Each of the four "rooms" representing Roosevelt's respective terms in office contains a waterfall. As one moves from room to room, the waterfalls become larger and more complex, reflecting the increasing complexity of a presidency marked by the vast upheavals of economic depression and world war.

The memorial took over 40 years to become a reality. Congress established a commission to create a memorial or the President Roosevelt; ten years after his death in 1955. The location of the memorial was selected in 1959. The design of the memorial was chosen in 1978. construction was authorized construction in 1982. Ground was broken for the memorial in September of 1991. There are several statues depicting the Depression era from: Men standing in bread lines, rural American family, a man listening to a Fireside Radio Chat the President give to let the American people know what was happening to in country. There are tributes to the President New Deal policy that got the country up and running. American’s involvement in War World II is depicted in the memorial. The death of the President Roosevelt during his fourth term and the effect it had on the nation is depicted. The memorial was dedicated on May 2, 1997 by President Bill Clinton. The Prologue room was added in 2001. This room contains a life size statute of President Roosevelt in his wheelchair. The National Organization on Disability raised over 1.6 million dollars to have the room added.

The designer and landscape architect of the memorial was Lawrence Halprin. The sculptor of the Fireside Chats, Rural Couple, and Breadline statues was George Segal. The large mural and five tall pillars that represent the New Deal were done by sculptor Robert Graham. The large statue of a seated President Roosevelt, his dog Fala, and the First Lady Eleanor were by Neil Estern seal. All the inscriptions in the memorial were carved by calligrapher and stone mason John Benson. The bronze bas relief of FDR’s inauguration created by Robert Graham. Leonard Baskin did the funeral relief mural. The still pool in the memorial represents Roosevelt's death.

The FDR memorial is the only one to depict a First Lady and the First Dog.