John Paul Jones Memorial
The John Paul Jones Memorial is a monument in West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C.. The memorial honors John Paul Jones, the United States' first naval war hero, father of the United States Navy, the only naval officer to receive a Congressional Gold Medal during the American Revolutionary War, and whose famous quote "I have not yet begun to fight!" was uttered during the Battle of Flamborough Head.[3][4]
| John Paul Jones Memorial | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Charles H. Niehaus |
| Year | 1912 |
| Type | Bronze |
| Dimensions | 330 cm × 97 cm × 110 cm (130 in × 38 in × 43 in) |
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Owner | National Park Service |
John Paul Jones Memorial | |
  | |
| Location | West Potomac Park, S.W. Washington, D.C. |
| Coordinates | 38°53′17.63″N 77°2′22.2″W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Part of | American Revolution Statuary. |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000256[1] |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 1978[2] |
History
Dedicated on April 17, 1912, the John Paul Jones Memorial was the first monument raised in Potomac Park. The memorial is located near the National Mall at the terminus of 17th Street Southwest near Independence Avenue on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin.[4][5] A nearby marker contains a biographical sketch of John Paul Jones, and describes the memorial's history and features.[6]
The memorial consists of a 10-foot (3 m) bronze statue that was sculpted by Charles H. Niehaus and a 15-foot (4.6 m) marble pylon. On each side of the monument, water flows out of ducts into a small pool.[7] On the reverse side of the monument is a bas-relief of Jones raising the United States flag on his ship, the Bonhomme Richard. The event is believed to be the first time the United States flag was flown on an American warship.[4]
The statue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the American Revolution Statuary group in Washington, D.C.
References
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- "American Revolution Statuary". National Park Service. July 14, 1978. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- Biography of John Paul Jones, United States Senate, archived from the original on 2008-05-28, retrieved 2008-05-21
- Penczer, Peter (2008), The Washington National Mall, Oneonta Press, ISBN 0-9629841-2-4
- Bednar, Michael (2006), L'Enfant's Legacy: Public Open Spaces in Washington, D.C., JHU Press, p. 67, ISBN 0-8018-8318-0, OCLC 219305717
- "John Paul Jones Memorial marker". HMdg.org: The Historical Marker Database. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- "Commodore John Paul Jones, (sculpture)". Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum. February 1994. Archived from the original on September 25, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
External links
