What’s that expression? You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a FILL IN THE BLANK? In DC, that blank would have to be a monument or a memorial. Last week, while in the southwest quadrant of the city at the conclusion of the No Kings march and rally and looking for the best route back to the Metro, my proverbial dead cat hit the Titanic Memorial. Located at 4th and P Streets SW, along the Washington Channel that separates the southwest waterfront area from the long green peninsula that is East Potomac Park, the memorial seems incredibly random. Yes, there were a few Washingtonians on the Titanic’s fateful voyage but it’s not a memorial to them. The inscription (which you should be able to read below) notes that it was erected to honor the men who died saving the women and children. Well, that seems worthy of remembering even it’s not clear why we should be doing it right there.

So what gives? In many ways, it is a story utterly American in its mix of public and private decisionmakers. Immediately after the Titanic sank in 1912, a campaign began to solicit private donations for such a memorial. In short order, the organizers had raised $43,000 but then the federal government stepped in to pitch in the remainder: some $500,000. The design and siting process dragged on for years with the final memorial, the design of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, being unveiled in 1931. In 1966, the memorial, which then stood on the banks of the Potomac, had to be moved to make way for construction of the Kennedy Center. (And yes, I am still calling it that — same as I still refer to National — not Reagan — Airport.)

The statue and its base went into storage for two years before it was installed in its current location in 1968. This was around the same time that the entire southwest waterfront was redeveloped, destroying a vibrant albeit somewhat dilapidated area that was home to working class Jewish and Black residents. Some of the newer apartment buildings erected at that time are still standing; others gave way for a second round of redevelopment and gentrification with construction of The Wharf in the early 2000s. But that, as they say, is a story for another day.

I don’t think it’s necessarily worth seeking out the Titanic Memorial, but if you are in that neck of the woods, it’s worth the stroll down the pedestrian walkway to the water’s edge. The photo below captures the officers’ quarters at Ft. McNair which abuts the memorial site.

In learning about the memorial, I also stumbled upon the website of the Friends of Titanic Memorial Park. The site says that there is a volunteer day of service each year timed to coincide with April 15th anniversary of the ship going down. Sadly I couldn’t find any details on plans for this year.

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