Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Washington, D.C., United States

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a 2-acre (8,000 m²) national memorial in Washington, DC. It honors U.S. service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who were unaccounted for during the War.

Its construction and related issues have been the source of controversies, some of which have resulted in additions to the memorial complex. The memorial currently consists of three separate parts: the Three Servicemen Memorial, the Vietnam Women's Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which is the best-known part of the memorial.

The main part of the memorial was completed in 1982. The memorial is maintained by the U.S. National Park Service, and receives around 3 million visitors each year.

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Founded: 1982
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in United States

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Alyssa Allen (5 months ago)
I have read a lot of books about Vietnam lately, so this was high on my list to visit. I've seen it in photos before, but you don't really understand just how tiny those names are engraved until you get there. Went early on a cold morning and it was beautiful.
Julio Perez (5 months ago)
Great history. When I was a tour guide at Yale they had us tell a story about the architect, Maya Lin. Allegedly, she submitted her decision for a national competition to design the Vietnam Memorial and she won, but her professor gave her a B out of spite, because he lost the competition to her. It's smaller than you would think but solemn and worth a visit. It's moving to see the different names on the walls from ALL ethnic backgrounds. Just walk straight from the Lincoln Memorial.
Novi Beerens (6 months ago)
Such a beautiful place. We walked from Lincoln memorial to Vietnam Memorial. We took lots of pictures especially during sunset. The sky was beautiful. We went during holiday season, lots of tourists but also fun to go.
Mike Rohan (7 months ago)
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a profound tribute that evokes deep emotions and honors the sacrifices of those who served. Its reflective black granite wall, inscribed with the names of over 58,000 fallen soldiers, invites visitors to connect with history and remember the lives lost. The serene atmosphere encourages reflection and healing, making it a powerful and essential visit for anyone wishing to pay their respects.
Kendra Yates (7 months ago)
I loved this thoughtfully designed memorial. It demonstrates the truth about U.S. involvement in Vietnam-- the length of years and cost in lives-- which were not disclosed so frankly at the time. Beautifully maintained and respectfully visited by many.
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