The Korean War Veterans Memorial in West Potomac Park honors those who served in the Korean War, fought from 1950 to 1953. Its central patrol of 19 stainless-steel soldiers moves across a triangular field, with a polished granite wall behind them etched with more than 2,400 images. The soldiers’ reflections create a group of 38, a reference to the 38th parallel. Take time to see the Wall of Remembrance and pause by the Pool of Remembrance. The memorial is close to the Lincoln Memorial and open around the clock.
A patrol cast in steel
The memorial’s central group shows 19 stainless-steel figures moving through a field as a patrol. Their equipment, ponchos and careful expressions give the figures a sense of movement and strain. They represent American military personnel who served in the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953.
The arrangement is part of the memorial’s triangular design, which meets a circular space. The figures stand beside a polished granite wall. Their reflections appear on its surface, doubling the group to 38, a reference to the 38th parallel that divided North and South Korea.
The mural and remembrance wall
The granite mural is etched with more than 2,400 images of people who served. Look for the faces and scenes across its surface, then compare them with the figures set in front of it. The wall includes images of military personnel and others who supported the war effort.
The Wall of Remembrance lists the names of those who died in the conflict, including Americans and South Koreans serving in U.S. military units. It was added in 2022. Read the names at your own pace; this part of the memorial is a place for quiet reflection.
The Pool of Remembrance
The Pool of Remembrance offers a quieter place to pause within the memorial. It sits among the other elements commemorating those who served and those who were killed, wounded, missing or held as prisoners of war. The memorial also includes a United Nations wall recognizing countries that took part in the war effort.
The figures, walls and pool present different parts of the memorial’s story. Take a moment to move around the site and notice how the statues relate to the etched wall and their reflections. The memorial is open at all hours, so a visit after dark is possible. The statues take on a different appearance under the lighting, though the mural can be harder to make out at night.
Where it fits into a National Mall walk
The memorial is in West Potomac Park, southeast of the Lincoln Memorial and near the Reflecting Pool. It is within walking distance of other memorials on the National Mall, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. You can include it in a longer walk between sites or visit it as a separate stop.
A visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon brings softer light and tends to mean fewer people. If you want more historical context as you look around, consider joining a tour. The memorial is open 24 hours a day.
Perguntas frequentes
Is the Korean War Veterans Memorial open at night?
Yes. The memorial is open around the clock, and the statues are illuminated after dark. The mural images can be harder to see at night.
How many statues are at the memorial?
There are 19 stainless-steel soldiers arranged as a patrol. Their reflections in the polished wall create the appearance of 38 figures.
What is on the memorial wall?
The granite mural is etched with more than 2,400 images of people who served. A separate Wall of Remembrance lists people who died in the war.
Where is the memorial in relation to the Lincoln Memorial?
It is southeast of the Lincoln Memorial, in West Potomac Park, near the Reflecting Pool.
