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The FDR Memorial has proven to be one of the most popular of the
presidential memorials since it opened on May 2, 1997. Its popularity has to
do 6:11 PM 11/24/2003 as much with its design as the man it honors. This is
a 7.5 acre outdoor memorial that lies beneath a wide - open sky. It
stretches out, rather than rising up, across the stone paved floor. Granite
walls define the four " galleries ", each representing a different term in
FDR's presidency from 1933 to 1945. Architect Lawrence Halprin's design
includes waterfalls, sculptures, and Roose welt's own words carved into the
stone. One drawback of the FDR Memorial is the noise. Planes on their way to
or from nearby Reagan National Airport zoom overhead, and the many displays
of cascading water can sound thunderous. When the memorial first opned,
adults and children alike arrived in bathing suits and splashed around on
warm days. Park rangers don't allow that anymore, but they do allow you to
dip your feet in the various pools. A favorite time to visit is at night,
when dramatic lighting reveals the waterfalls and statues against the dark
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