By Margaret Downey
The Thomas Paine Memorial Association (TPMA) won congresional and presidential approval for a Paine memorial in Washington, DC. Unsettled is the exact location of the memorial. TPMA reported on the site selection process as of October.
In compliance with the Commemorative Works Act of 1986, when HR 6720 was signed into law on December 27, 2022, by President Joe Biden, the law authorized TPMA to sponsor a memorial to honor the life and legacy of Thomas Paine within Washington, DC, “or its environs.”
In May 2023, TPMA contracted AECOM, a Washington, DC, infrastructure consulting firm, to help navigate the complex details of building a memorial. AECOM provides advisory, planning, design, engineering advice to TPMA, and will assist with construction management.
In March 2024, AECOM hosted a tour of possible DC sites for TPMA officers and memorial sculptor Zenos Frudakis. Twenty-two sites were visited, examined and considered.
Only two locations looked feasible for the placement of a proper Thomas Paine memorial.
- Madison Drive at 12th Street.
- Constitution Avenue at 3rd Street NW.
Site A is outside the Smithsonian Museum of American History and near the National Mall. It’s the best site for foot traffic to discover the Paine Memorial.
Site B is at an intersection flanked by the National Gallery of Art (East), Prettyman U.S. Courthouse, the U.S. Department of Labor, and an I-395 tunnel.
TPMA favors the Smithsonian location. Both sites are located in “Area One,” the prestigious area in Washington, DC, reserved for only the “most preeminent” historical figures with lasting U.S. contributions.
To locate any memorial in Area One, the sponsor must consult with the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC), which advises the Secretary of the Interior or the Administrator of the General Service Administration, who determines if the memorial qualifies to be in Area One. If approval is granted, Congress must reauthorize the memorial.
An online video meeting with the NCMAC took place September 4. We asked commissioners to approve moving forward with Area One status for the Paine monument.
In the meeting, I presented many reasons why Paine deserves a memorial, emphasizing that the story of the founding the United States of America is incomplete without highlighting Paine’s contributions.
AECOM consultant Claire Sale reported that TPMA had examined all 22 sites available under the statute, and determined the Paine memorial properly belongs in Area One.
Congressman Jamie Raskin, who spearheaded passage of HR 6720, could not join the meeting.He sent video testimony about Paine’s significance as a forgotten founder, stating a Paine memorial would have lasting national importance.
We’re now hoping for NCMAC’s recommendation of Area One placement of the Paine memorial.
Engagement Links:
Endorse: Area One placement for Paine Memorial.
Watch: the September 4 NCMAC meeting.
Subscribe: to TPMA on YouTube