The Monument
because stories of people, and the organizations
that were born during the height of the epidemic,
are the heart of our Monument.
The Traces
The Monument is comprised of 147 pillars called “Traces” which are 13 feet tall and measure approximately 4 x 4 inches at the base. The Traces lightly touch the ground and pierce the sky.
The bronze surface of the Traces has a variable, organic quality. Each Trace has a slightly different color. In that way, like a person, each Trace is unique, although the shape of each Trace is consistent.
Our Origin Story: from Concept to Completion
Listen to this audio by Craig Dougherty to learn how the Monument went from an idea to the beautiful, reverential place where we can gather today.
The Traces start with a very informal layout. As you move through the field of Traces toward the end of the Monument, the Traces become organized in a grid. This is a metaphor for what those affected by AIDS and HIV experienced in the 1980s and early 1990s.
The public didn’t really understand the disease, what caused it, how was it spread, how we were going to treat or cure it, how we were going to care for the sick, and when the fear, death and confusion were going to end.
But as we fought for civil rights, as we organized, as we took care of the sick and educated people about prevention, as medical treatments became available, the disease became more manageable and understandable.
And so the organization of the Traces into a grid reflects that greater clarity and feeling of community.
As you walk through the first field of Traces, look up and you will notice that some Traces are engraved.
Thirty of the Traces have words engraved on them: words representing what people were feeling and experiencing, and representing the types of audio stories you can hear if you visit the Word Wall on this website.
The words are placed in an irregular way throughout the Monument, so that there is a process of discovery in finding the words.
The Monument offers a different experience depending on whether you visit during the day or at night. The location of the Monument near the restaurants, bars and shops of West Hollywood provides an opportunity for visitors from 6:00 a.m. until midnight.
At night, the lights at the top of Traces are illuminated, resembling candlelight vigils that gave marchers a sense of emotional relief and community during a very difficult time.