Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial honors the 32nd President of the United States.

FDR served as President of the United States from 1933 to 1945, leading the country through the Great Depression and World War II. He implemented the New Deal, a series of programs and reforms aimed at economic recovery and social welfare. Despite his battle with a paralytic illness (debated to be either poliomyelitis or Guillain-Barré Syndrome), FDR's charismatic leadership and “fireside chats” helped restore public confidence. His administration saw the establishment of Social Security and significant labor reforms. During World War II, Roosevelt's policies and alliances were crucial in the Allied victory. He was elected to an unprecedented four terms, but died in office in April 1945, just before the end of the war in Europe.

The Memorial honoring FDR was designed by Lawrence Halprin with a dedication in May 1997 by President Bill Clinton. Spanning seven and a half acres, this memorial features a series of outdoor rooms that chronologically represent FDR's four terms in office. The Memorial also houses bas-relief panels, inscriptions from the former president’s speeches, and sculptures—notably, a statue of FDR in a wheelchair was added in 2001 to highlight his battle against paralytic illness. The Memorial's garden-like setting and use of water reflects the avid swimmer and sailor’s love for nature.