Park Service: Trump's proposed triumphal arch would harm 37 historic D.C. sites

Published Aug 3, 04:03 PM UTC

A National Park Service assessment concludes that President Trump's proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. would cause irreversible adverse effects to 37 significant historic sites, particularly the Memorial Avenue Corridor between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The assessment, required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, details how the arch would obstruct views and dominate the landscape, undermining the area's symbolic purpose of national unity after the Civil War. Critics, including the Virginia State Historic Preservation Officer, argue the adverse effects are intentional. While alternative designs and locations were proposed, the project is expected to proceed as planned. The assessment coincides with the Trump administration's push to overhaul historic preservation review processes, potentially reducing public and expert input.