Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence

The Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence in 2014, seen from across the pond in Constitution Gardens

The Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence is a memorial depicting the signatures of the original 56 signatories to the United States Declaration of Independence. It is located in the Constitution Gardens on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

History

Public Law 95 was passed by Congress in 1978 that allowed for the creation of a memorial to the signers of the Declaration of Independence. A gift from the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, the memorial consists of 56 stone blocks, each with a facsimile of the signer's actual signature, their occupation, and their home town. It was dedicated on July 2, 1984, exactly 208 years after the Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence.[1]

Location

The memorial is accessible to the public by crossing a wooden bridge onto a small island set in the lake between Constitution Avenue and the Reflecting Pool, not far from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Memorialized signers

Fifty-six delegates to the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, and are honored at this Memorial. Listed by state they are:

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence.

References

Coordinates: 38°53′28″N 77°02′34″W / 38.89109°N 77.04287°W / 38.89109; -77.04287

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