National Park Service warns Trump-proposed arch could damage historic sightlines in Washington
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A National Park Service assessment says the planned 250-foot triumphal arch would alter visual and spatial relationships among dozens of historic sites on the National Mall and nearby memorials.
The National Park Service has concluded that President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot gilded arch would compromise the historic integrity of numerous monuments and sites in Washington, D.C. The structure, slated for the Memorial Avenue Corridor—a landscape that links the Lincoln Memorial with Arlington National Cemetery, could disrupt “character-defining visual and spatial relationships” among the Lincoln Memorial, Memorial Bridge, Arlington House and other nearby landmarks.
The report notes that the arch would break the alignment that was intended to symbolically unite the North and South across the Potomac River. It also lists the National Mall, the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, and Lady Bird Johnson Park as directly affected.
The project has already cleared several approval steps, including early endorsement by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Area Planning Commission, both staffed with Trump appointees. The White House said it will comply with all legal requirements.
Opposition to the arch includes a lawsuit filed by three veterans and a historian, who argue that congressional approval is required for construction on National Park Service land. Their attorney, Nicolas Sansone of the Public Citizen Litigation Group, said the plaintiffs contend the project lacks proper authorization.
"The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world," White House spokesman Davis Ingle said, adding that the monument would enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery.
The National Park Service assessment supports the plaintiffs’ claim that the arch would alter the symbolic and solemn character of the area.