Oscar Straus Memorial

Last updated
Oscar Straus Memorial
View looking down to the Oscar S. Straus Memorial Fountain. The monument was authorized by Congress in 1927 and dedicated in 1947. It consists of the fountain and two groups of statues, HABS DC-860-3.tif
The memorial viewed from above (date unknown)
USA District of Columbia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in the District of Columbia
Coordinates 38°53′38″N77°01′54″W / 38.8938°N 77.0316°W / 38.8938; -77.0316 Coordinates: 38°53′38″N77°01′54″W / 38.8938°N 77.0316°W / 38.8938; -77.0316
LocationWashington, D.C.
DesignerAdolph Alexander Weinman
TypeMemorial
MaterialMarble
Dedicated dateOctober 26, 1947
Dedicated toOscar Straus

The Oscar S. Straus Memorial in Washington, D.C., commemorates the accomplishments of the first Jew to serve in the cabinet of a U.S. president. Oscar Solomon Straus was Secretary of Commerce and Labor under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1906 to 1909. The memorial is a marble fountain located in the Federal Triangle on 14th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. It is located in front of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Contents

The fountain was designed by Adolph Alexander Weinman, [1] funded with a public subscription beginning in 1929, [2] and dedicated on October 26, 1947. [3] In the center of the memorial is the massive fountain with the inscription "statesman, author, diplomat" and to each side are two groups of statues, one called Justice (to symbolize the religious freedom which allowed a Jew to serve in such a position of authority) and the other Reason (to symbolize the capitalism and labor efforts put forth by Straus).

It was rededicated on October 26, 1998. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

Ronald Reagan 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989

Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American politician who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 to 1975 after a career as a Hollywood actor and union leader.

National Mall United States historic place

The National Mall is a landscaped park within the National Mall and Memorial Parks, an official unit of the United States National Park System. It is located near the downtown area of Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States, and is administered by the National Park Service (NPS) of the United States Department of the Interior.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Airport near Washington, D.C.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, also known as National Airport, Washington National, Reagan National Airport, DCA, Reagan, or simply National, is a national airport in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is the smaller of two airports operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority that serve the National Capital Region (NCR) around Washington. The airport is 5 miles (8.0 km) from downtown Washington D.C. and the city is visible from the airport.

Federal Triangle station Washington Metro station

Federal Triangle is an island-platformed Washington Metro station in Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines, the station's entrance is beneath the William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building.

Eureka College United States historic place

Eureka College is a private liberal arts college in Eureka, Illinois, that is related by covenant to the Christian Church. Enrollment in 2018 was approximately 567 students.

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Federal building in Washington, D.C.

The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, named after former United States President Ronald Reagan, is located in downtown Washington, D.C., and was the first federal building in Washington designed for both governmental and private sector purposes.

Federal Triangle Collection of buildings in Washington, D.C.

The Federal Triangle is a triangular area in Washington, D.C. formed by 15th Street NW, Constitution Avenue NW, Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and E Street NW. Federal Triangle is occupied by 10 large city and federal office buildings, all of which are part of the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site. Seven of the buildings in Federal Triangle were built by the U.S. federal government in the early and mid-1930s as part of a coordinated construction plan that has been called "one of the greatest building projects ever undertaken" and all seven buildings are now designated as architecturally historic. The Federal Triangle Washington Metro station serves Federal Triangle and the surrounding area.

Judiciary Square Place in the United States

Judiciary Square is a neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., the vast majority of which is occupied by various federal and municipal courthouses and office buildings. Judiciary Square is located roughly between Pennsylvania Avenue to the south, H Street to the north, 6th Street to the west, and the Interstate 395 access tunnel to the east.

14th Street (Washington, D.C.) Street in northwest and southwest quadrants of Washington, D.C., US

14th Street NW/SW is a street in Northwest and Southwest quadrants of Washington, D.C., located 1.25 miles (2.01 km) west of the U.S. Capitol. It runs from the 14th Street Bridge north to Eastern Avenue.

William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building United States historic place

The William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building is a complex of several historic buildings located in the Federal Triangle in Washington, D.C., across 12th Street, NW from the Old Post Office. The complex now houses the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Presidential memorials in the United States

The presidential memorials in the United States honor the various presidents of the United States and seek to perpetuate their legacies.

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Hospital in Maryland, United States

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), formerly known as the National Naval Medical Center and colloquially referred to as the Bethesda Naval Hospital, Walter Reed, or Navy Med, is a United States' tri-service military medical center, located in the community of Bethesda, Maryland, near the headquarters of the National Institutes of Health. It is one of the most prominent U.S. military medical centers in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and the United States, having served numerous U.S. presidents since the 20th century.

Herbert C. Hoover Building United States historic place

The Herbert C. Hoover Building is the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the United States Department of Commerce.

<i>Columbus Fountain</i> Public artwork in Washington, DC

Columbus Fountain also known as the Columbus Memorial is a public artwork by American sculptor Lorado Taft, located at Union Station in Washington, D.C., United States. A centerpiece of Columbus Circle, Columbus Fountain serves as a tribute to the explorer Christopher Columbus. The unveiling in 1912 was celebrated all over Washington, DC over the course of three days with parades, concerts and fireworks gathering tens of thousands of people from all over the world.

Ariel Rios

Ariel Rios was an undercover special agent for the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), killed in the line of duty. He was a member of the Presidential anti-drug task force in South Florida.

State funerals in the United States

State funerals in the United States are the official funerary rites conducted by the Federal government of the United States in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. that are offered to a sitting or former president of the United States, a president-elect, high government officials and other civilians who have rendered distinguished service to the nation. Administered by the Military District of Washington (MDW), a command unit of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, state funerals are greatly influenced by protocol, steeped in tradition, and rich in history. However, the overall planning as well as the decision to hold a state funeral, is largely determined by a president and their family. usually before the occupation of the office.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Hospital in Los Angeles, California

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. It is currently ranked the 3rd best hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, and 1st on the West Coast. The hospital provides tertiary care to Los Angeles and the surrounding communities.

Dupont Circle Fountain Artwork by Daniel Chester French

The Dupont Circle Fountain, formally known as the Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Dupont Memorial Fountain, is a fountain located in the center of Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. It honors Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont, a prominent American naval officer and member of the Du Pont family. The fountain replaced a statue of Du Pont that was installed in 1884. Designed by Henry Bacon and sculpted by Daniel Chester French, the fountain was dedicated in 1921. Prominent guests at the dedication ceremony included First Lady Florence Harding, Secretary of War John W. Weeks and Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby.

Stephenson Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Public artwork by J. Massey Rhind

The Stephenson Grand Army of the Republic Memorial, also known as Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson, is a public artwork in Washington, D.C. honoring Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson, founder of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization for Union veterans. The memorial is sited at Indiana Plaza, located at the intersection of 7th Street, Indiana Avenue, and Pennsylvania Avenue NW in the Penn Quarter neighborhood. The bronze figures were sculpted by J. Massey Rhind, a prominent 20th-century artist. Attendees at the 1909 dedication ceremony included President William Howard Taft, Senator William Warner, and hundreds of Union veterans.

References

  1. "Oscar Straus Memorial". Goethe Institute. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  2. "Oscar S. Straus: Fountain at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C." www.DCmemorials.com. 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  3. "Come & Explore". www.itcdc.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  4. "Rededication Ceremony Oscar S. Straus Memorial October 26, 1998" (PDF). wholedamfam. Straus Historical Society, Inc. February 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2011.