The Washington Square Arch, officially the Washington Arch, is a marble memorial arch in Washington Square Park, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City. Designed by architect Stanford White in 1891, it commemorates the centennial of George Washington's 1789 inauguration as President of the United States, and forms the southern terminus of Fifth Avenue.

Description

Washington Arch, constructed of white Tuckahoe marble, was conceived by Stanford White, who adapted the form of a Roman triumphal arch, with a design close to the 1st-century Arch of Titus in Rome. They were monuments which the Roman Republic and later emperors built throughout the empire to celebrate a victory or event. For example, the flying figures in the spandrels on either side of the arch are winged victories. The monument's total height is 77 feet (23 m). The piers stand apart and the arch opening is high. The iconography of the Arch centers on images of war and peace. On the frieze are 13 large stars and 42 small stars, interspersed with capital "W"s.

The inscription on the attic story reads:

The north side of the eastern pier bears the sculpture George Washington as Commander-in-Chief, Accompanied by Fame and Valor (1914–1916) by Hermon A. MacNeil; the President is flanked by Fame (left) and Valor (right). The western pier has George Washington as President, Accompanied by Wisdom and Justice (1917–18) by Alexander Stirling Calder (father of Alexander Calder), with flanking Justice (right) and Wisdom (left) figures. In the latter sculpture, a hand holds a book bearing the Latin phrase Exitus Acta Probat ("the end justifies the deed"). These sculptures are commonly referred to as Washington at War and Washington at Peace, respectively. These figures and most of the rest of the carving on the arch was performed by the Piccirilli Brothers.

Upon the last stone is carved a huge "P" in honor of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the famous Polish pianist and 3rd Prime Minister of Poland, who donated $4,500 collected from one of his concerts in New York. The temporary arch was so popular that more money was raised and, three years later, the permanent stone arch, designed by architect Stanford White, was erected.

During the excavations for the eastern pier, human remains, a coffin, and a gravestone dated 1803 were uncovered below ground level. At the laying of the cornerstone, Freemasons from St. John's Lodge No. 1 were again present with the George Washington Inaugural Bible. The Arch was dedicated in 1895. In 1918, two statues of Washington were added to the north side.

By the late 20th century, the Washington Arch had become extensively defaced with spray-painted graffiti. It was cleaned and restored in 2003–04.

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File:2015 Washington Square Arch from northwest.jpg|The north face of the Washington Square Arch

File:20140526-WashingtonArch_SouthFace_Night.jpg|South face of the Washington Arch at night

File:Washington in War MacNeil.jpg|George Washington as Commander-in-Chief (1914–1916) by Hermon A. MacNeil

File:Washington in Peace Calder.jpg|George Washington as President (1917–1918) by Alexander Stirling Calder

File:History of the Washington arch in Washington square, New York, including the ceremonies of laying the corner-stone and the dedication. (1896) (14587273200).jpg|Ceremony of laying the cornerstone of the arch, May 30, 1890

File:Hassam Washington Arch Spring.jpg|Childe Hassam, Washington Arch, Spring, c. 1893

File:Charles Frederick William Mielatz, Washington Arch, 1909, NGA 147305.jpg|Washington Arch, illustration by Charles Frederick William Mielatz, 1909

File:LeonDoliceWashingtonSquareArchEtching1922.jpg|Etching by Leon Dolice, 1922

File:New York Photo Safari OHNY Washington Square Park.jpg|A view from directly beneath the arch

File:Reception of Prince of Udine, New York City-Passing Washington Arch-1917 LCCN97517208.jpg|Reception of Prince Ferdinando, Duke of Genoa, passing Washington Arch, 1917

File:(King1893NYC) pg972 WASHINGTON SQUARE AND WASHINGTON ARCH.jpg|Washington Square and Arch from King’s Handbook of New York City, 1893

File:WashingtonSquareArchEvening HopeLourieKillcoyneKillcoyne.jpg|Photo taken in 2010

File:Washington Square Arch (1) 03.jpg|Photo taken in 2015

File:U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division parade in New York City.jpg|U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division parade passing the Arch, 1946

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See also

  • List of post-Roman triumphal arches

References

  • Guide to the Records of the Washington Arch, 1872–1925