Who designed the Vietnam memorial?

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The woman who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial may not be a household name, but the impact of sculptor and architect Maya Lin’s work has been felt by millions.

Lin won a national contest to design the Vietnam memorial in 1981 when she was a 21-year-old senior at Yale University.

Lin designed the memorial as part of a class project.

She endured harsh criticism for the design at the time with many critics calling it too bleak or “strange.” Once the memorial was built and people were able to see it the criticism died down.

Approximately four to five million people visit the Vietnam Memorial every year making it one of the most visited memorials on the National Mall.