We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
The Adams Memorial Foundation's possible sites.

Next week, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission will contemplate a few memorials in various stages of development: One to fair housing, which still needs to get an authorization passed. One for the victims of the Ukrainian genocide, which has a site and just needs final design approval. And the last is one to a couple of inadequately memorialized presidents: John and John Q. Adams, for whom Congress passed legislation authorizing the use of public land in D.C. back in 2001.

The Adams Memorial Foundation, formally headed by descendant Ben Adams, has narrowed a list of 20 sites down to four: Massachusetts and 1st Streets NE, the Polo Grounds by the tidal basin, Square 575 just northwest of the Capitol, and Freedom Plaza. Of those, the Foundation prefers the last, desiring a spot as close as possible to the White House.

Presumably, fundraising to actually commission and build the statue will pick up once a site is secured. At the moment, the Foundation’s website is offline, and tax records show that the organization had a negative balance of $181,000 in 2009, the last year for which filings are available. When your cause is a Founder, though, the road is probably a little easier—-it’s not like they’re trying to build a memorial to Grover Cleveland or anything.