Memorial Amphitheater is an outdoor amphitheater, exhibit hall, and nonsectarian chapel located in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, in the United States. It was designed in 1913 as a replacement for the older, wooden amphitheater near Arlington House. Ground was broken for its construction in March 1915 and it was dedicated in May 1920. In the center of its eastern steps is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated in 1921. It has served as the site for numerous Veterans Day and Memorial Day events, as well as for memorial services and funerals for many individuals.
Genesis
Arlington National Cemetery was established in 1864. Due to the growing importance of the cemetery as well as the much larger crowds attending Memorial Day observances, Brigadier General Montgomery C. Meigs (who was Quartermaster General of the United States Army) decided a formal meeting space at the cemetery was needed.Cultural Landscape Program, p. 107-108. Accessed 2013-05-13. A grove of close-growing trees just southwest of Arlington House Grove was cut down and a wooden amphitheater (today known as the Tanner Amphitheater) constructed in 1873.Cultural Landscape Program, p. 108. Accessed 2013-05-13.
By the early years of the 1900s, however, the Old Amphitheater had grown far too small for the large ceremonies which were held there. Judge Ivory Kimball, Commander of the Department of the Potomac chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic (or GAR, a veterans' group for those who fought for the Union in the Civil War), believed that not only should a new and larger facility be built, but also that the new amphitheater represent the dead of all wars in which the nation had fought.Peters, p. 243-244. Kimball and the GAR began their push for a new amphitheater in 1903, and sketches for the amphitheater drawn up by Frederick D. Owen, a civilian engineer working for the United States Army Corps of Engineers.Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 8, 22. But legislation failed to pass Congress in 1905, 1907, and 1908.Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 8; "Plan New Memorial." The Washington Post. February 11, 1908; "Urge Arlington Building." The Washington Post. March 21, 1908. Legislation passed in 1908 authorizing the establishment of a memorial commission, but it received only $5,000 in funding.Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 9–10. Legislation was introduced again in 1912 by Senator George Sutherland. Sutherland's bill proposed construction of a 5,000-seat amphitheater with an underground crypt (for the burial of famous individuals) to cost no more than $750,000."Favor Big Memorial." The Washington Post. March 30, 1912; "Blocks Big Memorial." The Washington Post. May 8, 1912. Prospects for passage initially seemed dim. But during the third session of the 62nd Congress, a number of new federal memorials were approved, including the Arlington Memorial Bridge, the Lincoln Memorial, a memorial to women who served in the Civil War (now the American Red Cross National Headquarters), and a George Washington memorial auditorium."Agrees on Memorial." The Washington Post. January 30, 1913; "Orders Big Buildings." The Washington Post. February 22, 1913. The successful push for new memorials helped supporters win the passage of legislation authorizing construction of Memorial Amphitheater.Corfield, p. 80. President William Howard Taft, in one of his last acts as president, signed the legislation into law on March 4, 1913."District Saves Bill." The Washington Post. March 5, 1913.
The 1908 authorizing legislation established an Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission (AMAC) to oversee the design and construction of the structure. Its members included the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, the Superintendent of the U.S. Capitol, Judge Kimball (as a representative of the GAR), and Charles W. Newton (as a representative of the United Spanish War Veterans, a Spanish–American War veterans group).War Department Annual Reports, 1915, p. 1683. Accessed 2013-05-13.
It immediately became apparent, however, that although Congress had authorized the expenditure of $250,000 for Memorial Amphitheater, it had not actually appropriated any such funds from the U.S. Treasury. This left the AMAC without any funds to conduct its business."Memorial Plan Hitch." The Washington Post. July 10, 1913. It was not until August 1, 1914, that Congress finally appropriated money for the amphitheater's construction."Arlington Memorial Amphitheater, Deficiency," Document No. 1732, House Documents, Volume 116, p. 2. Accessed 2013-05-13. Ten days later, Colonel William W. Harts of the United States Army Corps of Engineers was elected the commission's executive director. On October 12, 1914, the AMAC contracted with the New York-based architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings to design the building. The AMAC hired the George A. Fuller Co. to construct it on February 11, 1915.War Department Annual Reports, 1915, p. 1684. Accessed 2013-05-13.The AMAC final report claims that Carrère and Hastings drew up plans for the memorial in 1908, that these were approved by the commission, and that the commission submitted them to Congress on February 15, 1909. The report does not say a contract was signed, however. The commission's final report notes that it was not until 1913 that Congress authorized a contract with Carrère and Hastings "for their full professional services". See: Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 11–12.
There is some disagreement among sources as to who should receive the majority of credit for designing Memorial Amphitheater. Lemos, Morrison, Warren, and Hewitt specifically name Thomas Hastings, as does the United States Commission of Fine ArtsCommission of Fine Arts, p. 69. and others.Dickon, p. 75; Marter, p. 410. But other sources name Frederick D. Owen, a civilian engineer working for the Corps of Engineers (and who also designed the flag of the president of the United States). Owen is named by architectural historians Butler and Wilson and by historian Rick Atkinson.Atkinson, p. 41. The Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission is not clear as to who deserves the credit, as it notes that Owen "drew the first sketches for plans for the great Memorial in 1904"Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 22. and later gave "suggestions and advice as to the form of the Memorial".Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 7. Owen's significant role is made clear by the AMAC in other ways as well: He designed the memorial trowel used by President Woodrow Wilson to lay the cornerstone; he served on the reception committee for the cornerstone laying ceremony;Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 23. he co-chaired the planning committee for the 1921 dedication;Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 47. and he chaired the reception committee for the dedication.Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 60. But the AMAC also said Carrère and Hastings prepared the plans for the building,Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 10. provided the explanation of the design to the AMAC,Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 11. and was named by Congress as the architects.Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Commission, p. 12.
The AMAC's composition changed somewhat after Congress amended the commission's authorizing legislation on March 3, 1915. Congress added the leader of Camp 171, United Confederate Veterans of the District of Columbia, to the commission as a full voting member.
Design
Memorial Amphitheater was designed by Thomas Hastings to be the center of a biaxial grouping of landscape features and monuments that included the USS Maine Mast Memorial in the west, the Spanish–American War Memorial to the south, and a formal Italianate garden to the east.Lemos, et al., p. 248. Greek Revival, Romanesque Revival, and Renaissance decorative elements are used throughout the structure.Lemos, et al., p. 251. Ulysses Ricci designed the various friezes, ornamental devices, and decorative elements of the amphitheater and entrance hall.War Department Annual Reports, 1919, p. 3850. Accessed 2013-05-13. Hastings said he wanted Memorial Amphitheater to be the building he was most remembered by.
As constructed, Memorial Amphitheater consisted of an elliptical outdoor amphitheater that sat 4,000. The bays formed by the colonnade can seat another 150 individuals."The Arlington Memorial Amphitheater," p. 94, 96. Accessed 2013-05-13. Another 1,000 individuals may be accommodated by standing."The Arlington Memorial Amphitheater," p. 96. Accessed 2013-05-13.
The amphitheater is surrounded by a colonnade, with main entrances at the east and west axes. The capitals of the columns are Doric,Butler and Wilson, p. 48. but rest on an Attic base. The entablature above the columns, however, is Ionic to allow for inscriptions. These inscriptions, on the exterior of the entablature, list 44 major battles from the American Revolutionary War through the Spanish–American War. Low, backless marble benches in concentric circles face the semi-circular main stage, which has three levels. The lowest level features a klismos, a form of ancient Greek informal chair meant for rulers. The klismos chair faces the audience, much as a cathedra (or bishop's chair) does. Hastings intended the klismos chair to remind the audience of the missing heroes honored by the amphitheater.Lemos, et al., p. 249. The second level of the stage has a podium. The stage and amphitheater are designed so that any speaker must look down at the klismos chair while addressing the audience, and must look at the USS Maine Mast Memorial if looking up.Lemos, et al., p. 250-251. The third and uppermost level of the stage contains a semi-circular seating area for about 100 people and an apse in the back.
The interior dome of the apse is richly carved, and the square pilasters on either side of the stage list the names of famous American generals (left, as you face the stage) and admirals (right) from the American Revolutionary War through the Spanish–American War.
A quotation from George Washington's address to the New York Provincial Congress on June 26, 1775 is inscribed inside the apse of the Memorial Amphitheater. It says, "When we assumed the soldier we did not lay aside the citizen." It is an excerpt of this quotation: "When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen, & we shall most sincerely rejoice with you in that happy Hour, when the Establishment of American Liberty on the most firm, & solid Foundations, shall enable us to return to our private Stations in the bosom of a free, peaceful, & happy Country."
A quote from President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is inscribed above the stage. It says, "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain."Davenport, Christian. "Arlington Cemetery Urns Turn Up on Auction Block, But How'd They Get There?" The Washington Post. January 23, 2011.
Decorative tall urns carved with eagles, rams' heads, and snakes were placed on pedestals in niches on either side of the stage.
Above the west entrance of the amphitheater is a quote from the Roman poet Horace: "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" ("It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country")."Memorial Amphitheater." Arlington National Cemetery. No date. Accessed 2013-05-15. Under the colonnade are 300 crypts, which were intended for the burial of important people.
In the basement (or ground floor, if approached from the west) beneath the amphitheater stage is a chapel. This domed structure was designed to seat 150, and has a raised ambulatory around the edges.