The Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza features numerous memorials that commemorate various individuals and events that have defined the state of Arizona and the entire country of the United States. Located outside the grounds of the State Capitol in Phoenix, Arizona, the two-block plaza features an incredible collection of memorials that have connections to the history and legacy of the state and nation, highlighting what it can mean for memorials to be experienced individually and collectively.
Redefining the Legislative Governmental Mall
Established in 1978 by the Arizona Legislature, the space that would be defined as the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza was part of the Legislative Governmental Mall. Intended to serve as an open-air public space with monuments, memorials and gardens, it was named after Governor Wesley Bolin, who died shortly before the space was dedicated. A marker at the entrance to the plaza celebrates his contributions to the state while also striving to memorialize his leadership and perpetuate his memory.
Loosely based on the National Mall in Washington, DC, the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza similarly features a variety of memorials that audiences can interact with and experience. Some of these memorials, like the World War II Memorial that features pieces of the USS Arizona, previously existed in the space. Others like the Bill of Rights Monument have been specifically installed to serve and support this larger vision for the space.
With memorials to the Koreans War as well as ones connected to peace officers and local legend Ernest McFarland, the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza enables audiences to interact with the history and legacy of Arizona and of the United States on multiple levels.
Multiple Memorials, Countless Experiences
Memorial descriptions and self-guided tours of the site are readily available, highlighting the variety of monuments and memorials featured at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza. They range from single pieces like the Arizona Workers Memorial, the 4th Marine Division Memorial and the Civilian Conservation Corps Memorial to the massive Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Arizona Fallen Firefighters and Emergency Paramedics Memorial, which feature numerous markers and figures.
To further illustrate the variety of the memorials, the space also contains monuments to Purple Heart recipients, Law Enforcement Canine Units, Jewish War Veterans, Code Talkers, and Pioneer Women. The state’s historic wartime contributions and prominent figures are celebrated in large and small ways all across the plaza. That includes everything from the Desert Storm memorial to the Father Kino Statue.
This variety has created numerous experiences for visitors to make the site a hub of activity on numerous levels. By being able to host more than 100,000 people as well as one of the Phoenix Points of Pride, it has proven how it can attract both residents and visitors for very different reasons. Prominently featured in maps and guides of the city, the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza highlights the kind of activity and engagement memorials can enable individually and collectively.
An Evolving Legacy
New monuments and memorials continue to be added to the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, cultivating further engagement with the community that attracts visitors from across the region. This commitment to the evolving legacy of the space and how it connects with the history of Arizona and the United States showcases how monuments can drive attention and activity in multiple ways for audiences across the eras.
