Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove Columbia Island (District of Columbia)

former president lyndon b. johnson died on january 22, 1973. after, johnson s admirers proposed constructing statue in washington, d.c., in memory, concern defaced led rejection of idea. brooke astor , laurence vanderbilt suggested grove of trees instead, , planning $2 million grove began in spring 1973. lady bird johnson park chosen site of grove due johnson s love of park while president. on december 28, 1973, congress authorized memorial grove dedicated johnson placement on columbia island.

by february 1975, $1.3 million memorial grove had been raised. $15 silver medal , $350 gold medal designed in 1975 , sold raise $150,000. plans grove largely complete may 1975. landscape architect meade palmer designed grove, included contemplative meadow , small granite plaza among trees. grove covered 15 acres (61,000 m), , planted white pine, dogwood trees, , flowering shrubs , bushes. granite plaza intended center of grove, on 45-short-ton (41 t), 19-foot (5.8 m) high pink granite orthostat (or standing stone ) quarried in texas placed. stone carver harold vogel worked exterior of stone give dynamic, rough-hewn reminiscent of johnson s personality. department of geological sciences @ university of texas estimated rock s age @ billion years. flagstone walkway winding through grove included in design. 4 quotes johnson s public speeches, selected lady bird johnson, carved flagstones placed around orthostat. $600,000 still needed in may 1975 complete memorial.

the orthostat delivered site in august 1974, , emplaced on august 13, 1975. in december 1975, congress authorized $1 million complete memorial grove , establish maintenance fund.

the memorial dedicated on april 6, 1976.