In early April, the National Capital Planning Commission will likely review Frank Gehry’s design for the Eisenhower Memorial to be built in Washington, D.C. Criticism after criticism has been leveled at the design, its urban impact, durability, and symbolism. There are few things we build of greater import than our civic memorials, for they record our history and values and transmit them to future generations. With this in mind, please review the information below and make your opinion known by writing to the following agencies.
Chairman Preston Bryant – National Capital Planning Commission; 401 9th St. NW; Washington, DC 20004
Chairman Earl A. Powell III – U.S. Commission of Fine Arts; 401 F Street NW, Suite 312; Washington, DC 20001-2728
Chairman Rocco C. Siciliano – Eisenhower Memorial Commission; 1629 K Street NW, Suite 801; Washington, DC 20006
Selected Articles reviewing Gehry’s design:
Léon Krier in Metropolis: Eisenhower Memorial, Washington, D.C.
George Will in Washington Post: Eisenhower Memorial misses the man
Roger Lewis in Washington Post: Gehry’s design for Eisenhower memorial misses the mark
Blair Kamin in Chicago Tribune: Driehaus and Krier do battle against Gehry’s Eisenhower Memorial design
Pulitzer Prize Winner David Shribman in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Which Ike to like?
Paul Gunther in Huffington Post: Designing and Eisenhower Memorial on the Mall in D.C.
Clem Labine in Traditional Building: DC’s Stealth Monument
Phil Langdon in Better! Cities & Towns: Honoring Ike – and adding appropriately to the nation’s capital
Dhiru Thadani in Better! Cities & Towns: A misshapen memorial to President Eisenhower
Steel Tapestry Mock-up: Photos published by NCAS
Tom Bethel in American Spectator: A Monstrosity, Not a Monument
Stephen Walt in Foreign Policy Magazine: Who Likes Ike? Not Frank Gehry
Daily Caller: Eisenhower family objects to expensive, garish DC monument
Politico: Memorial design sparks monumental controversy
Susan Eisenhower in Washingtonian: A Q&A With Susan Eisenhower About the Fight Over Her Grandfather’s Memorial
Susan Eisenhower’s Blog: The Unpredictable Past
Susan Eisenhower’s Blog: Let’s Engage on the Real Issues with Ike’s Memorial
Susan Eisenhower’s Blog: The Eisenhower Memorial, Another Front in the Culture Wars
Public Letters of Protest:
Congressmen Dan Lungren and Aaron Schock Call for Rejecting Eisenhower Memorial Design
Congressman Frank Wolf Calls for Rejecting Gehry’s Eisenhower Memorial Design
Eisenhower Family Letter Against Gehry’s Memorial Design
Report on Gehry’s Design: NCAS Report on Gehry’s Eisenhower Memorial Design
Official Presentation of Gehry’s Design: Eisenhower Memorial Commission
Alternative Designs: Counter-proposal Competition by ICAA Mid-Atlantic Chapter and NCAS