About the Site: The Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial honors the 32nd President of the United States and opened in 1997. Spanning seven and a half acres, this Memorial features a series of outdoor rooms with water features that chronologically represent FDR's four terms in office. The Memorial also houses bas-relief panels, inscriptions from the former president’s speeches, and sculptures—notably, a statue of FDR in a wheelchair was added in 2001 to highlight his experience with polio. The Memorial also includes a statue of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, which remains the only depiction of a First Lady in a presidential memorial. The FDR Memorial is located along the Tidal Basin and bursts into color each spring with the flowering of cherry blossoms and magnolia trees.
Location: Volunteers can utilize the Volunteer Desk and Storage at the Memorial’s Bookstore, located on the east side of the Memorial. Here, there are maps, brochures, and artefacts that volunteers may use to support visitors. Volunteers are encouraged to rove the entirety of the Memorial to interact with visitors. The Volunteer Desk and Window can be used when the weather is not suitable for volunteer roving.
Responsibilities: Welcome and engage with visitors. Share the history and legacy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Interpret the Memorial’s design features. Support visitor navigation, wayfinding, and trip planning. Monitor the site for maintenance needs and report them to program staff. Keep the Memorial tidy, as needed. Distribute maps and Junior Ranger books and swear-in Junior Rangers. Help visitors with National Park Service passport stamps. Share information about the surrounding area and resources. Inform visitors of basic memorial etiquette as it is helpful.
