The Arch commemorates the centennial of George Washington's 1789 inauguration as President of the United States, and forms the southern terminus of Fifth Avenue. Washington Arch, constructed of white Tuckahoe marble, was conceived by Stanford White, who imitated a Roman triumphal arch, namely the Arch of Titus, iconic monuments which Roman emperors built throughout the empire to celebrate a victory or event. 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 spandrels contain figures of Victory. MacNeil was the artist for Washington as commander in chief; Calder sculpted Washington as civilian.
Fifth Avenue ran through the Arch until 1964 when the park was redesigned and closed to traffic at the insistence of vigilant Greenwich Village residents
Used first as the Washington Military Parade Ground in 1826, the site became a public park in 1827
The inscription on the south side attic reads a quote by Washington: "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the event is in the hand of God"
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 Arch is constructed of white Tuckahoe marble
In 1889, a large plaster and wood memorial arch was erected over Fifth Avenue just north of Washington Square Park by local businessman and philanthropist William Rhinelander Stewart
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
The architect sought to imitate a Roman triumphal arch, namely the Arch of Titus
The iconography of the Arch centers on images of war and peace
Washington as Commander-in-Chief, Accompanied by Fame and Valor (1916) by Hermon MacNeil
2022
Statues of Washington were installed on the Arch's north side between 1916-1918
1889 - Constructed
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The Arch commemorates the centennial of George Washington's 1789 inauguration as President of the United States, and forms the southern terminus of Fifth Avenue.
The sculptures on the arch are commonly referred to as Washington at War and Washington at Peace
The sculptural figures and most of the carving on the arch was performed by the Piccirilli Brothers