World War II Memorial's 56 granite pillars

The National World War II Memorial features 56 granite pillars arranged in a semicircle, each pillar representing a U.S. state or territory (and the District of Columbia) as part of the memorial's symbolism. The memorial, opened to the public in 2004, uses granite and bronze as its primary durable materials and includes two triumphal arches and a central plaza. The provenance and number of pillars are recorded in the memorial's design and dedication documentation.