Memorial Design -- May 2010
Plans for a national suffragist memorial at Occoquan Regional Park in Lorton, Va. are a step closer to reality. The conceptual design for the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial was unveiled by architect Robert Beach of Robert E. Beach Architects, LLC, on May 12th, 2010, during a fundraising event at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Va.
Some of the design features for the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial include:
Entrance Plaza Gates duplicating the White House gates where suffragists stood as “silent sentinels” in protest and held “watchfire for freedom” rallies.
Commemorative Banners anchoring the entrance, replicating those carried by the suffragists.
A Memorial Cascade and Waterfall emanating from a wall mounted with more than 120 stainless steel plaques that identify the women incarcerated for the cause and copy the design of the “jailed for freedom” pin that was presented to them by Alice Paul.
A Footbridge Into A Memorial Meditation Garden symbolizing the crossing over and/or advancement of the movement and signifying the continuing push for equality.
Nineteen Interactive Vignettes along a winding path that will provide the history of the suffragist movement and the story of the women held at the Occoquan Workhouse. Historians with the Sewall Belmont House and a Smithsonian curator are participating in the creation of the vignettes.
Cost estimates for the memorial range between two and four million dollars. Efforts are underway to phase the construction of the memorial, beginning with the brick staging area and the gardens. The goal is to have the memorial built by the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in August of 2020.
Memorial Design -- April 2010All eyes will be on architect Bob Beach on the night of May 12th when he unveils to the public his conceptual design plan for the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial. Beach will share his vision for the memorial to attendees at the Silent Sentinel Award Reception at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Va. If you are interested in being among the first to see the plans, please register for the event by clicking here.
Architect Beach’s vision is to transform a grassy area in Occoquan Regional Park into a garden with walking paths, interactive stations, a bridge, and a water feature. It’s hoped the site will become a destination for tourists and students. Educational components are integrated into the design and will outline the history of the suffrage movement and the experiences of the suffragists held at the Occoquan Workhouse. The memorial’s location is already identified by wayside markers detailing suffragist history and falls within the Lorton Historic District. Beach worked with members of the Interpretation and Design Committee to create a place of “empowerment.” His design also takes advantage of the riverfront view and incorporates existing structures.
The conceptual plans are the culmination of a series of visioning meetings. Beach offered four site plans incorporating current and planned development in the area. The plan that was chosen by the Turning Point Suffragist Committee will reflect the strength of the women involved in the movement and the significance of their struggle.
Architect Bob Beach meeting with the Interpretation and Design Committee.
Memorial Design -- 2009
The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial (TPSM) is currently under design. Plans call for the memorial to be located at
Committee members and architect Bob Beach held a series of visioning meetings over the summer of 2009 that resulted in four conceptual site plans incorporating current and planned development in the area. Each plan placed the memorial in a garden setting with a variety of possible features, including paths, a bridge, watercourses and fountains, film kiosks, hedge mazes, statuary, plantings, signage, and other interactive elements. Architect Bob Beach stressed the theme of “Empowerment” in the design and suggested an approach that takes advantage of the
These conceptual plans were shared with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA), and in October of 2009 a decision was made to proceed with Phase One of a TPSM design that will consist of a garden area located behind the wayside markers in the photograph to the upper right. This garden will be within the Lorton Historic District.
TPSM Committee Members working on plans for the future memorial.
Memorial Design Concept Plans
Concept Plan (above)
Memorial Cascade (above)
Front Gates View (above)
Photos of Occoquan Regional Park, the future home of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial.
