The Albert Einstein Memorial - A National Mall, Washington DC Story

[Transcript]

A Monument You're Meant to Touch

Personally, I think the size of the memorial is fitting for a man who spent his life contemplating the mysteries of the universe and left us with such a big legacy.

And unlike most monuments in Washington, DC, this one actively invites you to climb on up there, take a seat, and commune with the genius.

So this tribute to Einstein was unveiled on April 22nd, 1979, on what would have been Einstein's 100th birthday. 

This whole look is purposefully casual. Sculptor Robert Burks didn't want Einstein to look stiff and formal because, by all accounts, he wasn't like that in life.

Instead, a larger-than-life Einstein sits here casually, hair tousled, shoes worn, looking as if he's just wandered out of a late-night thought experiment and is ready to chat with you. 

The Science Etched in His Hand

On the bronze paper in Einstein's hand, you'll find three of his greatest contributions to the scientific world.

The equation for the photoelectric effect, which won him the Nobel Prize, the theory of general relativity, and the field equations of general relativity, which describe how mass bends space and time.

You know that one, E equals MC squared. 

Don't worry, you're not being quizzed on any of this. Einstein himself once said, if you can't explain something simply, you don't understand it well enough.

So he'd probably be the first to tell you and me to just enjoy the moment and not stress about the math.

A Star Map, an Echo, and a Cosmic Secret 

Do you see the circular dais at Einstein's feet? Look closely. You see those thousands of tiny metal studs?

Well, they form a star map showing the night sky exactly as it looked on April 22nd, 1979.

If you stand in the very center and speak, you'll hear your voice bounce back at you in a strange whispery echo. 

That is an intentional acoustic effect. It's like a little cosmic secret. Be sure to try it out for yourself.