President Donald Trump announced plans Friday to build a National Garden of American Heroes in Washington, D.C., featuring statues honoring notable Americans from founding fathers to athletes and entertainers.
Trump revealed the project on Truth Social, stating the garden will be located in West Potomac Park near the Potomac River. He described the site as currently a “barren field” and said the finished park will become “a World Class Masterpiece” as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration.
Project Details
The garden will feature statues of what Trump called “the MOST BEAUTIFUL collection of statues of AMERICAN HEROES,” including founding fathers, military leaders, religious figures, civil rights champions, athletes, artists and entertainers. “The people of America (and the World!) will come here to learn and be inspired by the ‘Greats’,” Trump wrote in his announcement.
The National Garden project is part of a larger transformation of Washington’s public spaces that Trump is directing. The announcement included an aerial image of the proposed West Potomac Park site.
Broader Capital Renovation Plans
Trump is pursuing multiple high-profile projects in the nation’s capital ahead of the 250th anniversary celebration. The administration is currently working on a White House ballroom renovation and planning structural repairs to the reflecting pool near the Lincoln Memorial.
The Independence Arch. pic.twitter.com/I7GnQAH9Ko
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 23, 2026
The reflecting pool work is intended to address structural leaks and add a blue liner to enhance water appearance, with Trump previously estimating the cost at less than $2 million. “It’s so important for our country,” Trump said during that earlier announcement.
A separate proposal involves constructing a 250-foot tall Triumphal Arch near Arlington National Cemetery, which would require approval from Congress and the National Capital Planning Commission. The arch, called the Independence Arch, is designed to resemble the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and would exceed the Lincoln Memorial’s 99-foot height.
History and Expansion
The National Garden of American Heroes was first proposed during Trump’s earlier presidency. The latest announcement appears to revive and significantly expand the original concept as part of his broader effort to reshape Washington’s public spaces.
The White House unveiled three optional renderings for the Independence Arch in January, indicating the structure would stand between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery within a traffic circle connecting Washington with northern Virginia.
This story has been updated. CNN’s digital team contributed to this report.
