In December 1969, President Richard Nixon announced that both buildings would be demolished, a plan carried out in 1970.

The land was then reclaimed and turned into Constitution Gardens, with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial built near the former Munitions Building site in the early 1980s.

Thus, Roosevelt suggested placing the buildings on the National Mall (Potomac Park) along B Street (renamed Constitution Avenue in 1931), near the Lincoln Memorial.

[1] Roosevelt later expressed regret for allowing these building to be constructed, saying in 1941, "I didn't think I would ever be let into the Gates of Heaven, because I had been responsible for desecrating the parks of Washington.

[5] The Munitions Building, constructed in 1918, contained 841,000 square feet (78,100 m2) of space across three stories and was designed to provide temporary accommodations for 9,000 Department of War employees.

[7] A large parking lot 100 feet (30 m) wide and 1⁄2 mile (800 m) long, was located at the rear of the Munitions Building, with space to accommodate approximately 1,000 cars.

In August 1939, Secretary of War Harry H. Woodring, along with Acting Chief of Staff of the Army George C. Marshall, moved his office into the Munitions Building.

[13] To help deal with the space shortage, a fourth story was added to the Main Navy and Munitions Buildings during World War II.

[7] The Signal Intelligence Service was located in the Munitions Building during the early years of World War II.

The Hydrographic Office and United States Marine Corps moved to Main Navy from a Navy Annex building located at New York Avenue and 18th Street, and the United States Coast Guard relocated from the Munsey Building.

[19] From 1926 to 1941, a small reinforced concrete roof penthouse on the Main Navy building was used for radio and communication intercepts training.

[20] By 1960, the Munitions Building housed approximately 7,000 employees of not only the Navy but also the Army, Air Force, Veterans Administration, and the Department of State.

In December 1969, President Richard Nixon announced a plan for demolishing the Main Navy and Munitions Buildings.

The plan involved moving Navy employees to new buildings in the Crystal City and Ballston areas in Arlington County, Virginia.