All across the country, impressive and artistic memorials and monuments exist to celebrate the accomplishments and sacrifices of Americans. If you’re having a hard time choosing a memorial for a deceased loved one, McGee Monument Co. points to these national landmarks as inspiring examples of how a structure—large or small—can honor lives lost and their history.

5 Monuments & Memorials That Honor The Spirit Of America  

1. The Washington Monument

Like many other national monuments, the Washington Monument is based in D.C. and serves as one of the most distinctive landmarks in the nation’s capital. This towering obelisk was designed to memorialize the accomplishments and sacrifices of America’s first president and a Founding Father, George Washington.

2. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial

While simple in its black, monolithic style, D.C.’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial leaves a lasting impression with names inscribed over a two-acre structure. It serves to commemorate the service of the nearly 60,000 Americans who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.

3. The USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial is a truly unique monument located in the waters off Oahu, Hawaii, directly above the USS Arizona ship that was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Accessible only by boat, this expansive white structure helps memorialize the many lives lost in one of the few international attacks on U.S. soil.

4. The Gateway Arch

Sometimes, monuments and memorials in the United States do not necessarily commemorate the lives or actions of people, but rather, important events in history. As part of the Jefferson National Expansion Park in St. Louis, Missouri, the Gateway Arch serves to mark the period of history when Americans began expanding westward. It is the tallest arch in the world.  

5. The Louisiana Purchase Survey Marker

The survey marker monument in Arkansas’ Louisiana Purchase State Park shows national landmarks do not always have to be large and expansive. At only about six feet tall, this memorial looks very similar to cemetery tombstones and is inscribed to celebrate the point where planning for the Louisiana Purchase began.

Are you inspired by the grand and historic quality of America’s national monuments and memorials? There are many affordable headstones, monuments, and memorials available that can honor your loved one in a fashion that is as dignified as what national landmarks convey. To request an estimate on custom flat grave markers and memorials in Arkansas, contact the trusted team at McGee Monument Co. by calling (800) 750-0177 or by visiting them online.