The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced the Independence Arch project — a monument 250 feet (over 76 meters) tall, dedicated to the country’s 250th anniversary. It will be an American version of the Parisian Arc de Triomphe, but much larger, roughly the size of a 16–20-story building.
Source: Bukvy
According to current plans, the arch will be 165 feet high and 165 feet wide, with a 25-foot pedestal and a 60-foot gilded Statue of Liberty on top. Smaller versions were also considered, but Trump insists on a large structure. If the project is realized, it will be the largest monumental arch in the world, 30 feet taller than the Monument to the Revolution in Mexico City.
The project faces opposition from historic preservation advocates, who warn that the arch could block views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, and pose a danger to air traffic near Washington’s Ronald Reagan Airport. Planes fly at a low altitude here of only 492 feet, increasing aviation risks.
The White House reports that the project is still being finalized and will be submitted for approval to the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. Although Trump supporters are present on both commissions, architectural and historical review is still mandatory since the arch is located outside the White House grounds.
Visualizations of the proposed stone arch show columns, eagles, wreaths, and the gilded Statue of Liberty. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle stated that the Independence Arch could become one of the most famous landmarks not only in Washington but in the world.
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