Fast Fun Facts!

The U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial was dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on November 10, 1954. This is also the 179th anniversary of the Marine Corps founding.

Over 1.5 million visitors come to the memorial each year.

Felix de Weldon, the sculptor, was born in Vienna, Austria in 1907 and died in Woodstock, Virginia in 2003 and was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.

The memorial cost a total of $850,000 and was funded by private donations. No public funds were used.

The Marine Corps War Memorial is the largest bronze statue in the world weight 100 tons.

The marines in the statue are armed with some with 16-foot or 12-foot rifles and others with 5.5-foot knives.

The marine's helmets in the statue are 3-feet long in diameter.

"Marines from Marine Barracks, Washington D.C. perform their famous Sunset Parade in front of the memorial every Tuesday evening at 1900 during the summer months. The parade features a precision drill exhibition by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon and a 'Music-In-Motion' performance by the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps."