Our Visit I visited the National Mall in June
while on a business trip to the D.C. area.
2. The National Mall is lined with museums including several units of the Smithsonian
who's headquarters is the "castle" shown here (June)
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Our Weather Partly cloudy and very pleasant (mid 70s).
Overall Impression The Nation's Capitol is a special place full of history and
symbolism. Nowhere is that sense more alive than in the National Mall. Laid out from east
to west on a large rectangle of land approximately 2 miles long and 1/4-1/2 mile wide, the
Mall encompasses many of the U.S.'s greatest monuments and memorials honoring its founding
fathers and heros such as Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt and military
servicemen and women from WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. As if this weren't enough, the
mall is flanked by some of the world's greatest museums including the Museum of Natural
History, Museum of American History, Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of
African Art, National Air & Space Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and the National
Gallery of Art.
Visiting Plan on spending at least 2-3 hours to see most of the monuments and
memorials on the Mall. If you're interested in the museums, you'll need at least a full
day or more. The Mall is two miles long, and parking is at a premium, so be prepared for a
lot of walking! Because of the way things are laid out, it's easy to park anywhere on the
Mall and make a circuit to see each site. Walking the circuit and spending a few minutes
at each memorial will take two solid hours. While most are right on the Mall, the
Jefferson and Roosevelt Memorials are in Potomac Park adjacent to the Mall. If you wish to
include these in your tour, plan on an extra hour. The following photos and paragraphs
give additional information for the various sites within the Mall.
3. The Washington Monument dominates the National Mall (June)
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Washington Monument The Washington Monument stands in the center and
dominates the Mall. It stands as a monument to the Nation's first President, George
Washington. The obelisk stands 555 feet tall and was completed in 1884. An elevator takes
visitors to the top of the monument. Admission is free, but you must obtain a ticket and a
time (there is a small fee to reserve a ticket beforehand). From the top, visitors can see
30 miles on a clear day.
4. The National WWII Memorial is a beautiful arrangement of fountains and columns (June)
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National World War II Memorial The World War II Memorial, dedicated in
2004, occupies a prominent section of the Mall between the Washington Monument and the
reflecting pool. It commemorates the contributions of the "Greatest Generation"
to keep the world free from tyranny. The memorial is divided between the Atlantic and
Pacific with markings for the major battles of each theater. Columns for the 50 states and
territories line the memorial's central fountains, and famous quotes from leaders during
the war are enscribed in marble. This is a beautiful memorial which has the air of a
victory celebration more than anything.
5. Statues of soldiers are the centerpiece of the Korean War Veterans Memorial (June)
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Korean War Veterans Memorial The Korean War Memorial occupies an area
to the south of the reflecting pool near the Lincoln Memorial. The centerpieces of the
memorial are 19 life-size sculptures of soldiers walking in loose formation. Their ponchos
and watchful but weary looks tell the story of life as a soldier in Korea. Like the
Vietnam Memorial, the area is framed by a black granite wall, but instead of names, the
wall bears the engraved faces of Korean-era soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. This
memorial is particularly moving in the morning when fog or mist surround the statues.
6. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a sober place for reflection (June)
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is lies to the
north of the reflecting pool between the Lincoln Memorial and Constitution Gardens. The
memorial primarily consists of two large granite walls set an angle and inscribed with the
names of the 58,159 who were either killed in action or listed as missing. Visitors
descend along the memorial wall until it stands over them at a height of 10 feet at the
center and then ascend up the other side. Also on the grounds are the statues of the three
servicemen and the Vietnam Women's Memorial. This is a sober place with flowers and flags
marking the spot where loved ones and friends stopped to pay their respects.
7. Constitution Gardens is a peaceful place (June)
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Constitution Gardens Constitution Gardens is a large area comprising
the northwest section of the Mall. In the gardens are trees, flowers, a small lake and
paths. A small island in the lake is home to a memorial honoring the 56 signers of the
Declaration of Independence. Geese and ducks are year-round residents of the gardens, and
they will let you get quite close. This is a nice area to find a little solitude and shade
on a typical busy, hot Washington day.
8. The Lincoln Memorial stands at the west end of the National Mall and reflecting pool
(June)
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Lincoln Memorial The Lincoln Memorial is one of the best known
buildings in all America--after all, its likeness adorns both the penny and the
five-dollar bill. The structure, which sits at the western end of the National Mall, was
completed in 1922 to commemorate the man who's actions kept the Union together and freed
American slaves. Inside the massive building is a 19 foot statue of Lincoln and enormous
inscriptions of two of his most famous speeches: the Gettysburg Address and his Second
Inaugural Address. The memorial is also famous as the site of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech delivered to 250,000 people in 1963 at the height
of the Civil Rights Movement. The memorial offers an excellent view of the reflecting
pool, Washington Monument and the entire western half of the Mall.
9. The Jefferson Memorial is located in Potomac Park adjacent to the Mall (June)
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Thomas Jefferson Memorial The Jefferson Memorial sits in Potomac Park
just south of the National Mall across a large tidal pool. It was completed in 1942 and
houses a 19 foot statue of Jefferson along with numerous samples of Jefferson's most
important writings. It serves as a memorial to the ideas of freedom that gave birth to the
United States and served as a model for other nations. Because the memorial is separated
somewhat from the National Mall, it is less visited than the other sites, but the area it
occupies is beautiful, especially in April when the cherry trees (a gift from Japan in
1912) that line the tidal pool near the memorial are in full bloom. Due to time
constraints, I was only able to view the Jefferson Memorial from a distance.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial The Roosevelt Memorial occupies a
part of West Potomac Park adjacent the Jefferson Memorial. Dedicated in 1997, it is one of
the newer memorials in D.C. The memorial is an open-air arrangement with several statues
of FDR which represent the era of the longest-sitting President in U.S. history. Due to
time constraints, I was not able to visit the Roosevelt Memorial.
A couple of tips: If you can, take the Metro into the Mall (Smithsonian station is the
closest stop). This will save you from the sometimes nighmarish D.C. traffic and keep you
from paying the somewhat pricey parking meters. If you do drive and park near the Mall,
bring lots of quarters! When I went, it took 17 quarters to bring the meter up to its
2-hour maximum time limit.
Nearby Towns Washington D.C.
Other Nearby Attractions Manassas NBP, Shenandoah NP
Official NPS Website D.C
Area Parks
Click
on red circles to see photos
