🔗 Share this article

When the nation celebrated its bicentennial on July 4, 1976, the occasion was commemorated by the inauguration of the National Air and Space Museum's exhibition hall on Washington DC's National Mall. Designed in a strikingly modern style, it served as a testament to American aviation achievements, spanning from the first flight to the moon landings.

At that time, despite the recent stench of political scandal, there was a pervasive sense of a nation embracing progress and scientific advancement. Historical re-enactments were present, yet the primary focus was firmly on the future and modernity.

“The one that people know mostly is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. And we’re gonna top it by, I think, a lot.”

Now, half a century later, as preparations advance for the 250th anniversary, the architectural vision appears to have swung decisively toward historical re-enactment. Determined on imprinting a distinctly ornate signature on the capital, proposals for a victory arch to be placed near the Lincoln Memorial have been shared. Multiple conceptual versions of this structure, now termed the “Independence Arch,” display varying degrees of gold leaf and statuary.

Given the well-known affinity for opulence, many anticipate the gold-plated iteration to be favored. Critics have characterized the aesthetic as reminiscent of “regional car dealership rococo.” All designs are patterned on the ancient Arch of Titus in Rome, a classical form recurring throughout history in arches like the Arc de Triomphe.

Scale and Ambition: A Measure for Every Year

Initial suggestions presented three different sizes, but the most massive option—standing at 250 feet tall—has reportedly been settled on. This “250 for 250” symbolism is seen as chiming exactly with the anniversary's themes. For perspective, this would substantially exceed the 164-foot height of Paris's Arc de Triomphe.

Historically, triumphal arches—particularly grandiose ones—have been a magnet for autocratic figures. Historical plans for even more colossal arches in other cities underscore this tradition of using monumental design to assert power and permanence.

Additional Proposals: Currency and Combat

The architectural plans are paired by other controversial initiatives for the semiquincentennial. These reportedly include:

• Commemorative Coins: Producing $1 coins bearing a living person's likeness, a move that would break a longstanding law prohibiting such a practice.
• White House UFC Event: Hosting a major mixed martial arts event in a pop-up arena on the White House's South Lawn, a prospect unthinkable for previous administrations.

These plans have contributed to a perception of an administration eager to ignore the lines between state ceremony and political spectacle.

Heritage Concerns: The Future of the Kennedy Center

Another contentious proposal involves the proposed overhaul of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a landmark example of mid-century architecture. This has provoked significant resistance from heritage groups.

One such organization has forcefully condemned the process, stating that the building is a “cherished cultural institution” and a “significant work of modern architecture.” They have expressed serious alarm over an “absence of adherence to regulatory processes” and emphasized that such federally-owned sites “must be managed transparently, not treated as personal property.”

Echoes of Rome

Through these actions, there is a evident effort to appropriate historical imagery for current political ends. Directives favoring “traditional” architectural styles for federal buildings are seen by critics as a calculated move to exert influence over civic design and sideline progressive ideals.

While the envisioned arch is marketed as a tribute to national independence, its imposing scale and associated undertones prompt historical parallels. It recalls the ancient tradition of a servant whispering “Remember you are mortal” to a victorious general—a admonition of transience and the passing nature of all things.