Honoring the 25th Anniversary of the FDR Wheelchair Statue and the Completion of the FDR Memorial
In 2026, we will honor the 25th anniversary of the FDR Wheelchair Statue and the completion of the FDR Memorial. We will be hosting events to mark this historic milestone.
Thank you to those who have contributed to support this historic anniversary and to our major donors for their support of our work.
Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation
Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation
Lucy Waletzky, MD
Jane Deland - in honor of Mike Deland
Lakeshore Foundation - in honor of John Kemp
John Langan
Helena Berger & Jeff Arpin
We are thankful to all of our donors and we are proud to recognize them on our website. Anniversary sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please see this link for information. To donate, visit https://fdrmemorial.org/giving/.
First Event - Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Join us for a panel discussion Disability Representation in America, FDR, the fight for the FDR Wheelchair Statue, and the Politics of Commemoration and screening of the 20 minute documentary FDR Great Abilities. Speakers include:
- Dr. Max Friedman as Moderator – Chair, History Department, American University;
- Dr. Mary Ellen Curtin – Professor, American Studies, American University;
- Jim Dickson – led grassroots campaign for FDR wheelchair statue; Co-Founder, FDR Memorial Legacy Committee; and retired Vice President, American Association of People with Disabilities;
- Katherine Greenstein, MA – National Park Service AmeriCorps Member:
- Nila Morton, LMSW – Narrator of the documentary short FDR: Great Abilities, Youth Coordinator for Advocates for Justice and Education, disability activist, and social worker licensed in Maryland.
Location: American University, Constitution Hall, 3501 Nebraska Ave, NW, Washington, DC. Time: 5:30. Reception to follow.
Other details: Parking available next to Constitution Hall. The closest metro is Tenleytown. The accessible university shuttle can bring you near the event. The university is also reachable via WMATA bus.
Second Event - Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Join us for a panel discussion A Landscape of Memory: Art and Design at the FDR Memorial. Speakers include:
- Charles Birnbaum, FASLA, FAAR as Moderator – Founder and President, Cultural Landscape Foundation;
- Laurie Olin, FASLA – The Olin Studio, member of committee that advised on Prologue Room and FDR Wheelchair Statue;
- James Roosevelt, JD – Co-Chair of the 25th Anniversary; member of committee that advised on Prologue Room and FDR Wheelchair Statue;
- Noriko Fujinami - Worked with Robert Graham during his creation of artwork for the FDR Memorial; she is now the Administrator of the Estate of Robert Graham, based in Los Angeles, California;
- Invited Steven Koch, FASLA – Worked for FDR Memorial designer Lawrence Halprin during the final design phase of the Memorial.
Location: The National Union Building, 918 F Street NW, Washington DC
Time: 6:00pm. Reception to follow
Other details: Parking garages nearby. The venue is close to Metro Center and Chinatown metros.
Third Event - Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Join us for a commemorative event and celebration at the FDR Memorial. Speakers include:
- Jonathan Darman as Moderator – Historian and Author of Becoming FDR;
- Theo Braddy – Executive Director, National Council on Independent Living;
- Jim Dickson – led grassroots campaign for FDR wheelchair statue; Co-Founder, FDR Memorial Legacy Committee; and retired Vice President, American Association of People with Disabilities;
- U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (retired) – Co-Chair of the 25th Anniversary;
- Regan Linton – actor, writer, filmmaker, and artistic creator; playwright and star of the theatrical production FDR’s Very Happy Hour, which debuted in 2025;
- James Roosevelt, JD – Co-Chair of the 25th Anniversary;
- Other notable speakers to be added.
Location: The FDR Memorial -1850 West Basin Drive SW, Washington, DC
Time: 6:00pm
Other details: Street parking is available. The closest metro station is Smithsonian - approximately 1.1 miles.