Landmarks in Washington, DC

The National Mall

Culture / Landmark / Outdoor Activity / Park

Party Earth Review “Let’s go to the Mall” has a different meaning in DC, where the National Mall brings in more than twenty-four million visitors a year – all without the help of an Apple Store. Stretching from the Capitol Building on the east side to the towering Lincoln Memorial on the west, this historic two-mile stretch of grass, fountains, and sculptures is also home to some of the most iconic buildings and institutions in the District, including ten Smithsonian museums along its outer edge and the eponymous Washington Monument near its center. Conspiracy theorists assert the entire area is steeped in hidden Masonic code – ranging from fun factoids about how ... more

Address:

Between Independence Avenue and
Constitution Avenue from the Capitol
to the Lincoln Memorial
Washington, DC 20560

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DC Landmarks Overview

The National Mall - Culture | Landmark | Outdoor Activity | Park in DC

Washington, D.C. is actually a small city, but anyone viewing the noble and stately landmarks of the nation’s capital could have a confused sense of scale. Most of the famous Washington, D.C. landmarks are within walking distance of each other, located in the general vicinity of the Washington Mall park space.

Set near the Potomac River, several monuments to great people are often framed with cherry blossoms from the cherry trees sent as a gift by Japan. The Washington Monument is kept as the tallest structure in D.C. Across a tidal basin, the Jefferson Memorial’s elegant design is a tribute to Thomas Jefferson, architecture freak and penner of the Declaration of Independence. The Lincoln Memorial, with its iconic statue of a seated Abraham Lincoln, invites contemplation about the ideals he stood for. Other destinations in the area are the sobering Holocaust Museum and various war memorials. The famous low wall of the Vietnam War Memorial features the names of all members of the U.S. armed forces who were lost in that war.

After the seriousness of the monuments, a walk east along the National Mall provides a break, as it is bordered by the various Smithsonian Museums, all with free admission. At the end of the Mall, the U.S. Capitol’s dome looks over the city as senators and representatives do very important things inside.

A mile away, peek through the White House gates to see if you can catch a glimpse of First Dog Bo. You can tour the house, though you have to submit a request through your member of congress or embassy. And, no, you probably won’t get to say hi to the First Family.