Ward Circle

{{Short description|Traffic circle in Northwest, Washington, D.C.}}

{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

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| name = Ward Circle

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| image = Statue_in_Ward_Circle,_Washington,_DC.jpg

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| caption = Ward Circle and Katzen Arts Center in 2006

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| namesake = Artemas Ward

| type = Traffic circle

| owner = District of Columbia

| maint = DDOT, National Park Service

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| location = Washington, D.C., U.S.

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| coordinates = {{coord|38|56|16|N|77|05|09|W|display=inline,title|region:US-DC_type:landmark}}

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Ward Circle is a traffic circle at the intersection of Nebraska and Massachusetts Avenues in Northwest, Washington, D.C. The circle, totaling {{convert|30243|sqft|abbr=on}}, is owned and administered by the National Park Service through its Rock Creek Park unit.{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/features/foia/Reservation-List-2011.pdf|title=Reservation List: The Parks of the National Park System, Washington, DC|date=August 2011|website=www.nps.gov|publisher=National Park Service; Land Resources Program Center; National Capital Region|access-date=February 27, 2018}} On three sides is the campus of American University, while the fourth is occupied by the Nebraska Avenue Complex, a U.S. government facility.

The circle was constructed and landscaped in the 1930s to display the {{convert|27.5|ft|adj=on}} bronze, memorial statue of Artemas Ward.{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/historyculture/monuments.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407063419/http://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/historyculture/monuments.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 7, 2015|title=Monuments, Statues and Memorials: Rock Creek Park|date=April 10, 2015|work=National Park Service|access-date=February 27, 2018}}{{cite news |title= Details Drafted for Ward Circle |work= Washington Evening Star |date= March 13, 1933 |page= 17 |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX-NB&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=O4FH59ONMTQxNDcwODM0OC44MTQ3MDA6MTo3OnJhLTk2NjY&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=58&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=58&p_docnum=1&p_docref=v2:13D5DA85AE05A305@EANX-NB-148A264D8D0BC080@2427147-1489E4772769D20E@16-148A2C8EB32B6D20@ }} Ward was the first Commander-in-Chief in the American Revolutionary War.{{Cite web |url=https://www.si.edu/object/siris_ari_20337 |title=General Artemas Ward (sculpture) |website=Smithsonian Institution |language=en |access-date=February 27, 2018}} Sculptor Leonard Crunelle created the statue over a three-year period, while the base and pedestal were built by J. F. Manning Co."[https://www.proquest.com/docview/150950902/650AF5648C30486APQ/50 Artemas Ward Marker Plans, Site Approved: Work on Monument to War Hero to Start Next Week]". The Washington Post. September 21, 1937. p. 13. The pedestal is made from Stony Creek granite.

The president and fellows of Harvard University donated the $50,000 to cover the cost of the statue. The donation fulfilled the terms of the will of Artemus Ward, an alumnus of Harvard and the great-grandson of Maj. Gen. Artemus Ward."[https://www.proquest.com/docview/151007138/650AF5648C30486APQ/57 Ward Statue to be Unveiled on Thursday: Delano to Preside Woodring to Speak Memorial to General]". The Washington Post. October 31, 1938. p. X3. The statue was unveiled on November 3, 1938, by Mrs. Wesley Feick, the great-great-granddaughter of Maj. Gen. Ward. Secretary of War Harry Hines Woodring spoke at the unveiling.

Located on the west side of the circle, the home of American University's School of Public Affairs was named for and is still sometimes known as Ward Circle. In 2017, the official name of the building was changed to Kerwin Hall after former university president Cornelius M. Kerwin.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2017/06/ward-circle-building-now-named-kerwin-hall|title=Ward Circle Building now named Kerwin Hall|last=Samsel|first=Haley|date=June 27, 2017|website=The Eagle|access-date=February 27, 2018}}{{Cite press release|title=Board of Trustees Spring 2017 Meeting Summary|date=May 23, 2017|publisher=American University|url=https://www.american.edu/trustees/may-23-2017.cfm|last1=Cassell|first1=Jack C.|access-date=February 27, 2018}} On the North side of the circle is American University's Katzen Arts Center.