Precursor Garden

A public gateway to the future National Liberty Memorial.

The Precursor Garden concept joins a physical place, an armillary sphere, and a digital atlas so visitors can search names, hometowns, and Revolutionary service on the Mall.

Family using a digital interface near an armillary sphere in a memorial garden.
Concept image: a family uses a digital interface attached to an armillary sphere to search for names and hometowns of Black Revolutionary War patriots.

Search a hometown

Visitors begin with a place: a town, county, city, or state connected to Revolutionary service.

Find a patriot

The atlas reveals names, service, status, pensions, family ties, and out-of-state movement where the public record permits.

Enter the memorial story

The garden makes the national memorial legible before it is built, turning research into a public act of recognition.