Washington DC is already filled with monuments honoring the nation’s history. Now, several more memorials are in the works, including tributes to war veterans, Peace Corps volunteers and fallen journalists.
The National Mall memorials are either in the process of being built or are still in the pre-construction phases, with some projects further along than others.
Here's a look at where some of those projects stand.
Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial
After breaking ground on the memorial in 2022, a dedication ceremony is slotted for October 2026 for the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial.
The memorial - near the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial - will honor those who served in Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield.
Names of people who died in the
wars will not be included, but leaders for the project insist they are treating those soldiers "with the utmost respect and intention"
"This memorial represents many forms of sacrifice: those who gave their lives in theater, those who passed away later from related causes, and those still carrying the physical and emotional toll of their service," organizers say.
Fallen Journalists Memorial
To be located at the east entrance of the National Mall across from the National Museum of the American Indian, the Fallen Journalists Memorialwill honor journalists who have died while reporting the news.
The memorial is funded by private donations, and the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation is anticipating to dedicate the memorial in late 2028.
"The memorial is a journey of discovery that places the visitor in the role of journalist searching for transparency and truth amid opacity and confusion," the foundation says, adding that it has three distinct spaces and the journey through them "represents the reporters process."
Peace Corps Park
President Barack Obama signed the Peace Corps Commemorative Works Act into law in 2014, and the final design for the park was approved in 2024.
Construction prep began in 2025 on the park, which "will serve as a national gathering place to honor the legacy of Peace Corps Volunteers and the values of service and global partnership." It will be located across from the U.S. Capitol building.
Organizers are still raising money for the project before construction begins, with installation and landscaping set to take up to a year to complete.
The park features "three hand‑shaped granite benches will surround a world map without borders, each engraved with powerful words from John F. Kennedy, Sargent Shriver, and global champions of peace," organizers say. "Together, they create a space that honors the spirit of service at the heart of the Peace Corps."
Global War on Terrorism Memorial
The Global War on Terrorism Memorial will be situated near the Lincoln and Vietnam Veterans memorials, an intentional site for its construction.
"The embrace is oriented to align directly with Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, the resting place of many of the Global War on Terrorism’s fallen," according to the Global War on Terrorism Foundation. "This deliberate axis links the living city with sacred ground, forming a bridge between civilian and military lives, and between the present moment and those it honors."
The goal is for the project to break ground in 2027, with completion set for 2028.
"This Memorial will honor the multiple generations of Americans and their families who have served and sacrificed around the world to keep our country safe from terrorism since 9/11," Michael "Rod" Rodriguez, the foundation's president and CEO, said in a statement.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's the status on the new memorials coming to Washington DC?
