National Park Service Endorses Trump’s 250-Foot Triumphal Arch Despite Historic Impact Concerns
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The National Park Service approved the location and size of a proposed 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery, while noting adverse effects on historic sightlines and landmarks.
The National Park Service has approved the placement and dimensions of President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch, which is planned for Memorial Circle near the main entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. In a report released Friday, the agency said the arch would serve as a focal point reflecting the site’s intended character and commemorating 250 years of American independence.
The agency’s analysis, required under the National Historic Preservation Act, identified adverse effects on dozens of historic properties, including the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, primarily related to changes in views and the skyline rather than physical damage. The report noted that alternative sites could lessen some impacts but would detach the project from the historic planning precedent that justifies its current location. It also stated that smaller versions of the arch would more completely block the historic view between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, whereas the proposed design would frame part of that sightline through its central opening.
The agency received over 100,000 public comments during an initial June consultation and an additional 6,254 comments after reopening the comment period in July.