Honoring all of the Tennesseans who served and made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, the Tennessee World War II Memorial is one of the most notable features of Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville, Tennessee. Serving as both a memorial of the past as well as a hub for the community in the present, the monument highlights what it can mean to enable connection across the eras.
Connections from Tennessee Across the World
Installed in 1997, the most notable feature of the Tennessee World War II Memorial is the 8-ton solid granite globe that has been engraved with countries that existed at the time of Wotld War II. Lines stretch from Tennessee to all of these locations, showing the connection of the region to all of the people and nations that were impacted by the war.
The surface of the plaza contains gold stars that represent the 5,731 Tennesseans who made the ultimate sacrifice. They serve as subtle reminders of the sacrifice of these individuals, while the benches and seating areas enable further connection with people and families who endured the ultimate sacrifice.
The granite plaza is defined by ten vertical pylons that display engraved images from wartime years. The pylons on the east side depict events in Europe and North Africa while the panels on the west display events that defined the Pacific theatre. Text underneath the images conveys the history of each conflict and explains how Tennessee and its soldiers and citizens contributed to efforts that defined the conflict.
Located within Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the Tennessee World War II Memorial showcases what it can look like to further connect audiences with the legacy and history of an entire region. In doing so, it has become an essential element of the city in the present and for the future.
Interacting with the Legacy of World War II
Resting on a cushion of flowing water, the globe of the memorial can be easily pushed in different directions, enabling audiences to literally interact with the history that the Tennessee World War II Memorial celebrates. This interaction allows audiences to engage with the space on multiple levels, highlighting how many different types of connections a landmark can showcase.
