The George Rogers Clark Memorial, which was constructed between 1925 and 1935, is the largest monument of its kind in the United States west of Washington, DC. A National Historic Landmark that is also listed in the National Register, the memorial faced age- and weather-related deterioration and the threat of flooding from the adjacent Wabash River.
To fix these issues and ensure the long-term viability of the Memorial and the surrounding George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, the National Park Service hired RATIO to complete several projects on the site.
RATIO led the completion of several distinct projects at the Park, beginning with the review of previous studies, completion of condition assessments, and the development of construction documents for repairs to both the George Rogers Clark Memorial and the Wabash River Floodwall.
The existing granite and concrete paved surfaces, waterproofing and the correction of all structural concrete deficiencies were removed and a waterproofing membrane was installed, along with new bi-level deck drains. A crushed rock drainage layer was then provided to allow storm water drainage at the level of the new membrane. The concrete paving at the main terrace level was replaced using an exposed aggregate pattern that is more representative of the original design.
The 1500-foot-long, concrete floodwall was constructed in 1931 to protect the memorial from flooding. RATIO repaired the lower wall and replaced the parapet and sidewalk where severe deterioration threatened the structural integrity of the floodwall.
