With its iconic monuments, such as the memorials dedicated to Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, as well as its beautiful gardens and its richly packed museums, the National Mall is DC’s historic centrepiece. You can lose yourself exploring this area of the city for days on end.
At the stunning alabaster monuments to early American presidents Lincoln and Jefferson, you can join many Americans and visitors from around the globe visiting and taking a moment to admire the architecture and the impact made by the men honoured. You’ll spot the Washington Monument rising up in an obelisk shape to a height of 169 metres, the world’s tallest stone structure. When illuminated by night, the needle-like monument is a dazzling sight.
They are not the only great Americans whose role in shaping the nation is honoured here. See the tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. whose famous “I have a dream” speech was made here. Or see the monument to President Ulysses S. Grant who won the American Civil War.
As well as these great monuments and memorials that line the landscape of DC, you can explore the excellent museums to be found here. Among them are the National Museum of American History, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Air and Space Museum.
All through the year, festivals are held here. If you’re in the city during the spring, check out the Blossom Kite Festival and Earth Day. Independence Day and Labor Day celebrations held here include amazing parades and dazzling firework displays that light up the skies above Washington.
After all the time you spend exploring the monuments and museums, there is no better place than the National Mall to relax and unwind. You can go for a jog along the paths and through the gardens, take a paddle boat ride on the water, or play Frisbee on the open space across this remarkable patch right in the heart of DC.
