Atlantic City’s Historic World War I Memorial Gets a Patriotic New Look

ATLANTIC CITY — One of the city's most recognizable gateways has a new look.

Atlantic City's historic World War I Memorial at O'Donnell Memorial Park is now illuminated in red, white and blue, bringing new nighttime attention to a landmark that has greeted generations of motorists entering the resort along Albany Avenue.

The new lighting was unveiled Sept. 3 as part of a beautification effort spearheaded by 5th Ward Councilwoman Maria Lacca, who was joined by Mayor Marty Small Sr., members of City Council, the Chelsea Economic Development Corp. and community members. Lacca has described the project as the beginning of a broader effort to improve public spaces throughout the Fifth Ward.

Atlantic City Councilman Jesse Kurtz said during an appearance on Off The Press with Scott Cronick on WOND that Lacca first raised the idea roughly a year ago.

“I remember her mentioning that, hey, you know, something I'd really like to do beautification-wise is light up that monument with different colors,” Kurtz said.

He admitted he wasn't immediately convinced it could be accomplished.

“I remember thinking to myself, I was like, I don't know that's gonna happen,” Kurtz said.

It did.

Motorists coming into Atlantic City on the Black Horse Pike can now see the monument illuminated in patriotic colors, something Kurtz said gives the gateway a dramatically different appearance.

“When you're coming into town, Black Horse Pike now, and you look at that beautiful World War I Memorial, the monument — instead of being lit up with standard lighting, it has patriotic red, white and blue lighting on it,” Kurtz said.

Kurtz credited Lacca along with the city, Small and the Chelsea Economic Development Corp. for making the project happen.

He said simply getting consistent lighting at the monument had previously required cooperation among several groups.

“Fast forward to today,” Kurtz said. “Now when people drive by tonight at the monument, they'll see it looking really neat in honor of America 250 — a really bang kind of beautification visual for people.”

More Than a Century of History

The lighting adds a modern touch to a structure that dates back more than a century.

The Greek temple-style memorial was erected in 1922 and measures 124 feet in diameter, surrounded by 16 Doric columns. The names of World War I battles in which Atlantic City residents fought are inscribed on the structure.

Inside stands the 9-foot bronze sculpture “Liberty in Distress,” created by noted sculptor Frederick W. MacMonnies. The sculpture was installed several years after the temple itself.

The memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

The new lights may also allow the century-old landmark to change with the calendar.

Kurtz said the red, white and blue display will remain for now before potentially returning to traditional white lighting. He said there has also been discussion about using different colors for holidays and other occasions.

“There was some talk about possibly lighting it up like Christmas and Hanukkah colors around the holiday,” Kurtz said.

And, an Eagles fan suggested, there is at least one other possibility.

“Light it up green for the Eagles when they win the Super Bowl,” Kurtz said. “I certainly hope that that's the case.”

The ability to change colors gives city officials an opportunity to use the landmark in ways that weren't possible with its previous lighting while preserving the monument itself.

For Lacca, the project is about more than lights.

“This is about taking pride in our community and ensuring a Fifth Ward that residents can be proud of,” she said at the unveiling, describing the monument as an important piece of Atlantic City's history.

More than 100 years after Atlantic City erected the memorial to honor its World War I generation, one of the city's oldest landmarks is now becoming one of its newest nighttime sights.