Frequently Asked Questions
How large is the memorial? The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial covers approximately 7.5 acres. What is with all the water? Water was an important aspect of President Roosevelt's life. As a young man growing up along New York State's Hudson River, he enjoyed swimming and sailing. During the First World War, he served as Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy. Following his polio diagnosis, he established the Warm Springs Institute in Georgia to help rehabilitate others combatting the same disease. As president, FDR pushed for the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and supported other water power projects. So, this theme was incorporated into his memorial. To learn about even more connections, talk with a Park Ranger when visiting the site. May I touch the statues? Yes, you may touch the statues. The statues were created to be interactive elements within the memorial. However, for your own safety, and out of respect for others visiting the site, the National Park Service requests that visitors refrain from climbing or sitting on the statuary elements. The memorial sculptures commemorate an American President and the men and women he led during one of the more difficult and trying periods of American history. |
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Did You Know?
![Bas Reliefs Bas Reliefs](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120928154202im_/http://www.nps.gov/ncr/images/FRDE_rm1basrelief.jpg)
Franklin Roosevelt, like three other presidents whose memorials grace the National Mall, commanded attention because of his stature. Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt all stood over six feet tall. Before he was confined to a wheelchair, FDR stood out in a crowd at 6’2” tall.