Arlington Ridge Park
Also known as: U.S. MarineCorps War Memorial(000-9707-0001/000-1233); Netherlands Carillon(000-9707-0002/000-1239; Nevius Tract
Why it's listed
Arlington Ridge Park is a 27.5-acre commemorative landscape on a ridge overlooking the Potomac River, bordered by Arlington National Cemetery to the south and part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. It was long known as the Nevius Tract. The northern section holds the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, dedicated in 1954, whose seventy-eight-foot bronze statue by Felix de Weldon is based on Joe Rosenthal's photograph of the second flag-raising on Iwo Jima. Horace Peaslee designed its formal, symmetrical site plan. The southern section holds the Netherlands Carillon, a Modernist steel tower designed by Joost W.C. Boks and given by the people of the Netherlands in gratitude for American aid in World War II. Its setting is an informal landscape of lawns, trees, and tulip beds. A planned central Freedom Shrine was never built. The park hosts ceremonies, parades, and concerts, and draws more than 1.4 million visitors annually.
Significance in brief: The park is nominated as a nationally significant commemorative landscape with two major memorials, each set in its own landscape treatment. The Marine Corps memorial is a bronze statue by Felix de Weldon based on the Iwo Jima flag-raising photograph, while the carillon was a Dutch gift in gratitude for American aid. The site also forms the western terminus of the National Mall view-shed and draws more than 1.4 million visitors a year.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 09000688, listed September 4, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW corner of N. Meade St. and Marshall Dr., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | September 4, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000688 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Architect / builder | Felix de Weldon (sculptor); Horace Peaslee (architect, Marine Corps memorial site plan); Edward F. Neild (statue base); Joost W.C. Boks (architect, Netherlands Carillon) |
| Architectural style | Modernist (Netherlands Carillon); formal symmetrical landscape for the Marine Corps memorial; architectural classification listed as N/A |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a commemorative and recreational park, with ceremonies, carillon recitals, and the Marine Corps Marathon finish line. |
| Acreage | 27.5 |
| Coordinates | 38.89165, -77.06932 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 09000688.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14711975
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.