Eisenhower memorial approved for D.C.

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has approved a site in Washington, D.C., for a memorial to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, adjacent to the National Mall. The former president's role in making the Interstate Highway System a reality was recognized this year during observances of the 50th anniversary of the system.

The memorial will be at the intersection of Maryland and Independence avenues, SW, between 4th and 6th streets, across Independence Avenue from the Mall. The area is surrounded by the Department of Education, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Air and Space Museum and the Voice of America.

Design of the memorial is expected to proceed late in 2007.

The fine arts commission was the third of three congressionally created commissions that had to sign off on the new memorial site; the others already have given their approval. They are the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission and the National Capital Planning Commission.