Reflection Pool to Washington DC National Monuments

Reflection Pool to Washington Monument

Washington DC National Monuments

National Mall
DESCRIPTION: this expansive park extends two miles east from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and 1 mile south from the White House to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. The nation’s most famous park also features Smithsonian museums, war memorials, National Archives, and botanic gardens. These grand venues are only closed on major holidays.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: between Constitution and Independence Avenues, Washington DC MAP
PARKING: street parking
RAPID TRANSIT: Smithsonian Metro Station
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/nama

Washington Monument
DESCRIPTION: Honoring America’s first president, it may surprise you to know this 555 feet tall obelisk monument was built in fits and starts due to lack of funds, lack of public interest and the Civil War. The cornerstone was laid in 1848, but it was not opened to the public until 1888. visitor tickets are required to tour the top of Washington Monument by elevator. They are Free for those not minding the wait in long lines. Tickets are distributed from the kiosk at 15th Street and Madison Drive. If you can’t stand lines, reserve tickets up to 5 months in advance by calling 800-967-2283.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-4:45p
ADDRESS: Center of the National Mall, Washington DC MAP
PARKING: street parking
RAPID TRANSIT: Smithsonian station
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/wamo

World War II Memorial
DESCRIPTION: After President Clinton signed into law a commission to establish this memorial, we can thank Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg for raising funds to get it built. The circular outdoor memorial with pavilion pillars honors the 16 million Americans who served in the armed forces during World War II. About 400,000 American soldiers died and millions more supported the war from home, including the Tuskegee Airmen and the balloonists on D-Day at Normandy. It is one of the most visited memorials in DC.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: 24/7
ADDRESS: West of the Washington Monument, Washington DC MAP
PARKING: street parking
RAPID TRANSIT: Smithsonian Metro Station
WEBSITE: http://www.wwiimemorial.com

Korean War Veterans Memorial
DESCRIPTION: The memorial features a column of 19 foot soldiers arrayed for combat who represent nearly every background, recognize America’s multi-ethnic service in that war. It was also America’s first war where people of color were allowed to serve among integrated armed services. The 164-foot wide mural, inscribed with the words, “Freedom Is Not Free” and is etched with images of armed services personnel who served in the war.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: daily 8a-midnight
ADDRESS: Independence Ave at Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC MAP
PARKING: street parking
RAPID TRANSIT: Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro Station
PHONE: 202-619-7222 or 202-632-1001
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/kwvm

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
DESCRIPTION: Open boomerang-shaped black granite walls line the most emotionally moving memorial in DC. The wall is 247-feet long with a 125 degree angle at its vertex. By many estimates, African-Americans comprised a third of American soldiers in Vietnam. Names of the 58,209 Americans missing or killed in the Vietnam conflict are listed on the wall. A life-size bronze sculpture also depicts three young servicemen of different races.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: 24-hours daily, Park Ranger on site from 8a–midnight
ADDRESS: Constitution Avenue & Henry Bacon Drive NW, Washington DC MAP
PARKING: street parking
RAPID TRANSIT: Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro Station
PHONE: 202-634-1568
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/vive

Abraham Lincoln Memorial
DESCRIPTION: America’s most beloved monument overlooks the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument. Inside, a 19-foot marble statue of the 16th President is flanked by inscriptions of his Second Inaugural Address and Gettysburg Address. From the grand steps of this monument, the world came to know America’s Civil Rights Movement and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the March on Washington in August 1963. Though he gave the speech before, this is where most of the world heard his “I Have A Dream” speech. Always remember that A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin deserve the lion’s share of the accolades for conceiving and organizing a march that drew 250,000 people and accelerated momentum towards Civil Rights legislation that has forever changed our nation for the better.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: daily 8a–midnight
ADDRESS: West Potomac Park at 23rd Street NW, Washington DC MAP
PARKING: street parking
RAPID TRANSIT: Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro Station
PHONE: 202-426-6841
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/linc

Thomas Jefferson Memorial
DESCRIPTION: Beneath the iconic rotunda, a magnificent 19-foot statue of president Thomas Jefferson is surrounded by passages from the Declaration of Independence, to which Jefferson is credited for writing a the largest chunk thereof. To his eternal dishonor and fully cognizant of its moral significance, Jefferson never freed his slaves.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: daily 8a-midnight
ADDRESS: 15th Street SW at Tidal Basin, Washington DC MAP
PARKING: free parking lot nearby
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 202-426-6841
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/thje

Franklin Roosevelt Memorial
DESCRIPTION: This 7.5-acre memorial depicts the of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 12-year presidency in four outdoor galleries. It features ten bronze sculptures depicting President Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and events from the Great Depression leading up to World War II, waterfalls and a reddish granite. It is the first memorial in DC designed to be totally wheelchair accessible, in honor of the first President to use a wheelchair in office.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: daily 8a-12a
ADDRESS: 1850 West Basin Drive SW, Washington DC MAP
PARKING: free parking lot nearby
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 202-376-6704
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/fdrm

Fords Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Bring those history lessons to life when you visit this working theatre and national historical landmark where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: free-tours daily
ADDRESS: 511 10th Street NW, Washington DC MAP
PARKING: garages nearby
RAPID TRANSIT: Metro Center Station
PHONE: 202-426-6924 or 202-347-4833
WEBSITE: http://www.fordstheatre.org

Arlington National Cemetery
DESCRIPTION: Among the thousands of graves for those who served their country with distinction are those for Ron Brown, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Joe Louis, Thurgood Marshall and Medgar Evers; includes the daily ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: dawn to dusk
ADDRESS: Jefferson Davis Highway and Memorial Drive, Arlington, VA MAP
PARKING: free parking lot on premises
RAPID TRANSIT: Arlington Cemetery Metro Station
PHONE: 703-607-8052
WEBSITE: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org

Marine Corps Memorial
DESCRIPTION: A 78-foot tall memorial commemorating all the US Marines who have died in battle since 1775. Its design was sculpted from a photograph showing the flag being raised by Marines on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima during World War II.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: dawn to dusk
ADDRESS: Route 50, near Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA MAP
PARKING: on street
TRANSIT: Arlington Cemetery Metro Station
PHONE: 703-285-2601
WEBSITE:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/gwmp/usmc.htm

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate
DESCRIPTION: The slave burial ground on his estate is located on the hill overlooking the Potomac River, near George Washington’s tomb; in 1983 a large memorial to the slaves designed by Howard University students was dedicated at the site; unlike most other Southern plantation owners, to his credit, George Washington’s will freed his slaves.
ADMISSION: $13 Adults, $6 Ages 6-11, others enter Free
DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-4p, longer hours depending on season
November through February, 9a-4p
ADDRESS: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA MAP
PARKING: on premises
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 703-780-2000
WEBSITE: http://www.mountvernon.org

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