Summary
The memorial to Albert Einstein is set at the entrance to the headquarters of the National Academy of Sciences, a private, non-profit society of distinguished scholars, in Washington DC. The memorial offers an intimate experience, allowing visitors to get up close and take memorable photographs (children can even sit in his lap). Built in 1979 to honor the centennial of Einstein’s birth, this impressive 12-foot bronze figure depicts him seated on a granite bench, holding a paper filled with mathematical equations summarizing three of his pivotal scientific achievements: the photoelectric effect, the theory of general relativity, and the equivalence of energy and matter.
History of the Memorial
The Einstein Memorial was created by renowned sculptor Robert Berks, drawing inspiration from a bust of Einstein that he sculpted in 1953. Furthermore, the landscaping surrounding the monument was designed by landscape architect James A. Van Sweden. The granite bench on which Einstein is seated features engravings of three of his most famous quotes:
As long as I have any choice in the matter, I shall live only in a country where civil liberty, tolerance, and equality of all citizens before the law prevail.
Joy and amazement of the beauty and grandeur of this world of which man can just form a faint notion.
The right to search for truth implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be true.
About Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) gained notoriety as a German-born physicist and philosopher of science, particularly recognized for formulating the theory of relativity. His contributions to science earned him the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics. Additionally, he explored the thermal properties of light, which fundamentally shaped the photon theory of light. Settling in the U.S. in 1940, he became an American citizen and published over 300 scientific papers along with more than 150 non-scientific works, significantly impacting modern physics and philosophy.
About the National Academy of Sciences
Founded by an Act of Congress in 1863, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) serves to provide independent, objective advice to the nation regarding science and technology. Membership is comprised of distinguished scientists elected by their peers, and nearly 500 members have been honored with Nobel Prizes. The building located in Washington DC was dedicated in 194 and is featured on the National Register of Historic Places. For further information, please visit www.nationalacademies.org.
Visitors to the Einstein Memorial may also wish to explore nearby attractions, including the Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and the serene Constitution Gardens, making the most of their time in this historic area.
