{{short description|Memorial building in Chicago, Illinois}} {{Use American English|date = October 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date = October 2019}} {{Infobox monument | name = Elks National Veterans Memorial | native_name = | image = Elks National Veterans Memorial and Headquarters.jpg | image_size = | caption = | location = Chicago, Illinois, United States | mapframe =yes | designer = Egerton Swartwout | type = Beaux Arts-style | material = | length = | width = | height = | weight = | visitors_num = | visitors_year = | begin =1922 | complete = 1926 | dedicated =July 14th, 1926 | open = | restore =1994 | dismantled = | dedicated_to =American veterans (originally Elks members who died in World War I) | map_name = | map_text = | map_width = | map_relief = | coordinates = | website ={{URL|elks.org/memorial}} | extra_label = | extra = }}
The '''Elks National Veterans Memorial''' (officially the '''Elks National Memorial and Headquarters Building''') is a Beaux Arts-style domed building at 2750 North Lakeview Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Elks National Memorial Building and Headquarters |url=https://www.architecture.org/online-resources/buildings-of-chicago/elks-national-memorial |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=Chicago Architecture Center |language=en}}</ref> It is across from Lincoln Park and close to the park's Goethe Monument and statue of Alexander Hamilton.
== Description and history == The structure was planned by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, who wished to honor members of their order who had served in World War I. A design competition was administered by the American Institute of Architects. Architect Egerton Swartwout's design was selected for the building, which was constructed between 1924 and 1926.<ref name=":0" /> Fine marble was imported from Greece, Austria, France, Belgium and Italy, as well as from Vermont, Tennessee, Alabama and Missouri. High-quality limestone came from Indiana. The building's lavish construction and interior decoration and artwork have caused it to be described as "one of the most magnificent memorials in the world."<ref name="CAF">{{cite web |url=http://www.openhousechicago.org/site/314/ |title=Elks National Memorial |website=Open House Chicago |publisher=Chicago Architecture Foundation |accessdate=2013-06-26 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924153827/http://www.openhousechicago.org/site/314/ |archivedate=2013-09-24 }}</ref> The building features sculptures by Adolph A. Weinman, Laura Gardin Fraser, and James Earle Fraser, and murals by Eugene Savage and Edwin Blashfield.<ref>{{cite book |first=Alice |last=Sinkevitch |display-authors=et al |title=AIA Guide to Chicago |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |year=2004 |page=202 |edition=2nd}}</ref>
The rotunda features murals and statues depicting the Elks' four cardinal virtues: charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity. The friezes portray the ''Triumphs of War'' on one side and ''Triumphs of Peace'' on the other. The entrance is flanked by two large bronze sculptures of elks.
The Elks rededicated the memorial in 1946, 1976, and 1994 to honor veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and all subsequent conflicts.<ref name=apel/> On October 1, 2003, the City of Chicago granted the memorial landmark status.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elks National Memorial Headquarters Building |url=https://webapps1.chicago.gov/landmarksweb/web/landmarkdetails.htm?lanId=1545 |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=Chicago Landmarks |publisher=City of Chicago |language=en}}</ref>
Besides its status as a memorial, the building serves as the national headquarters of the Elks.<ref name=apel>{{cite book |first=Melanie Ann |last=Apel |title=Lincoln Park, Chicago |publisher=Arcadia |year=2002 |page=96 |isbn=0-7385-2016-0 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Lincoln_Park_Chicago/lQ1A-GjBFtwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA96&printsec=frontcover}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Elks National Veterans Memorial}} *[http://www.elks.org/memorial/default.cfm Elks Veterans Memorial] *[https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002717829/ Historic American Buildings Survey pic avail]
{{Coord|41.9323|-87.6400|type:landmark_region:US-IL|display=title}}
Category:Beaux-Arts architecture in Illinois Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1926 Category:Elks buildings Category:Headquarters in the United States Category:Chicago Landmarks Category:Monuments and memorials in Chicago Category:World War I memorials in the United States