National Native American Veterans Memorial

Washington, DC

Set on the serene, wooded grounds of the National Museum of the American Indian, the new memorial honors American Indian, Alaska Native, and Hawaiian Native men and women who have served in the U.S. military. Designed by Harvey Pratt, a Cheyenne and Arapaho artist and Vietnam War veteran, the “Warrior’s Circle of Honor” features a stainless steel circle set atop a carved stone drum. We worked closely with the Smithsonian Institution and the design team to integrate the memorial carefully into the landscape. The fully accessible approach path winds gently among mature groves of river birch trees, ecologically rich wetlands, and large Grandfather Rocks. Through the use of organic forms, locally sourced materials, and native plantings, this thoughtful, award-winning design complements the existing landscape and allows visitors to experience and reflect upon the timeless, healing embrace of nature.

AWARDS: American Society of Landscape Architects, Potomac Chapter, 2021, Merit Award in Design Built