American War Memorial, Moorish Castle Travel Guide

The Naval Monument at Gibraltar, more formally known as the American War Memorial, is a World War I memorial that commemorates the achievements and alliance of the American and British navies. Located at the Straits of Gibraltar, the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea, the monument was constructed in 1933 by the American Battle Monuments Commission and incorporated into the Line Wall Curtain, the main city wall. It was inaugurated in 1937.The monument is a masonry archway made of stone from the Rock of Gibraltar. Above the arch are bronze seals of the United States and the Department of the Navy. The inscription on the monument reads: "Erected by the United States of America to commemorate the achievements and comradeship of the American and British navies in this vicinity during the World War". Steps lead down from the monument to the harbor, giving it the nickname "American Steps".The U.S. Navy operated a Patrol Force from Gibraltar during World War I, cooperating with the Royal Navy to combat German submarines and escort convoys. Gibraltar was a major base for these operations. In November 1998, a bronze plaque was unveiled at the monument to commemorate Operation Torch, the World War II Allied invasion of North Africa, which was led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was headquartered in Gibraltar.