Contributed by: DC Preservation League
Organization: DC Preservation League
Dated Posted: October 21, 2026
Website: Visit External Site

Plans are advancing for a 250-foot “Triumphal Arch” at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The National Park Service’s own Section 106 assessment found it would adversely affect dozens of historic properties, including Arlington House, the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Memorial Bridge, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation ended consultation on September 24 before an agreement was reached. The DC Preservation League, many other organizations and tens of thousands of members of the public oppose the project, and a coalition of Vietnam War veterans has sued to stop it.

A final vote is expected at the National Capital Planning Commission’s online meeting on November 5. Public testimony is encouraged; sign up by October 28.

More information: ncpc.gov (public testimony guidelines)