Spotlight: Washington DC - National Mall and Memorial Parks Part II (Monument Walk)

Spotlight: The National Mall is the United States' most visited National Park. It is filled with monuments and memorials that honor America's heroes from the past, and is a rallying spot for the social movements of the present. In 1791, city planner Pierre Charles L'Enfant proposed a garden-lined Grand Avenue to be constructed along a mile route from the Capitol Building to an equestrian statue of George Washington, which was to be placed directly south of the White House. Although L'Enfant's original vision was never completed, it was eventually replaced by what has become known as the National Mall.
     Instead of an equestrian statue, city planners decided to honor our first President with a large stone obelisk named the Washington Monument which, measuring 554 feet 7 11/32 inches, is the tallest stone structure in the world. Construction began in 1848, and city planners began developing several parks in the area surrounding the monument. Since then, monuments and memorials have been continually added to honor the heroes that have risen up through the decades of our nation's history. Every day, tens of thousands of individuals walk along the route through these magnificent monuments, either as part of an official tour, or on their own self-guided tour, choosing how long to linger at each of these inspiring landmarks.

Location: The National Mall and Memorial Parks extends from the Lincoln Memorial in the west, to the Capitol Building in the east and everything in between, including the parkland around the Tidal Basin.

Cost: free; most official tours cost extra

Time: The Mall is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Rangers are on hand from 9:30 am - 10:00 pm to answer questions. Most tours of the Mall run about 2-3 hours, which is enough time to see the highlights. You could spend most of the day exploring the monuments and parks that make up the Mall.

Description: There are dozens of monuments and memorials that make up the National Mall. However, the highlights on almost anyone's tour (whether formal or informal) include the following:
     The Washington Monument is the tallest true obelisk in the world. There is an observation deck at the 500 foot level, and tickets are required for anyone 2 and over to enter. It takes 70 seconds to take the elevator to the observation deck. Once they are done enjoying the view, visitors go back down the stairs to the 490' level which contains exhibits before boarding the elevator for the trip down.

     Dedicated in 1943, the Jefferson Memorial is a neoclassical monument dedicated to the principal writer of the Declaration of Independence, and third President of the U.S. The monument consists of circular marble steps, a portico, a circular colonnade of Ionic columns, and a shallow dome. Inside is a 19 foot, 10,000 lb. bronze statue of Jefferson surrounded by excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, and other famous quotes.

     Dedicated in 1997, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is dedicated to the only president to serve for more than two terms. The monument, which extends over 7.5 acres, consists of four "rooms" (one for each term of office) which highlight the presidency of the man who led the United States through the Great Depression and World War II.

     Completed in 2011, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is dedicated to the leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. The memorial covers 4 acres, and is dominated by a 30 foot relief of King - which represents the Stone of Hope protruding out of the granite mountain of despair mentioned in his famous "I Have a Dream" speech (given in 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial). A 450 foot long Inscription Wall contains excerpts from many of his various speeches and sermons.
     Dedicated in 1995, the Korean War Veterans Memorial honors the men and women who served their nation by fighting in the Korean War. The main memorial is a large triangle that intersects a circle. The walls, 164 feet long and 8 inches thick, contain more than 2,500 photographic images, sandblasted into the highly polished "Academy Black" granite, which represent the land, sea and air troops who participated in the conflict. Within the triangular wall are 19 stainless steel soldiers representing a squad on patrol.

     Dedicated in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial forms the western edge of the National Mall. The building is in the form of a Greek Doric Temple, and contains a massive statue of President Lincoln, who liberated the slaves and preserved the Union, seated among inscriptions from two of his famous speeches - the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address. The Memorial has also been the site of many famous modern speeches and rallies.

     The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was constructed from 1922-1923. The 2,029 foot long, 167 foot wide pool extends from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument and is one of the most prominent features of the National Mall. Filled to a depth of approximately 18 inches, it holds approximately 6,750,000 gallons of water and is featured in many pictures of both monuments.
     Completed in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors the men and women who served their country in that conflict. The memorial consists of three parts - the Three Servicemen Memorial, the Vietnam Women's Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The wall is made up of two 246 ft. 9 in. gabbro walls etched with the names of the servicemen and women being honored. The walls are sunk into the ground, reaching 10 feet high at their apex and tapering down to 8 inches at their extremities. The surface of the wall reflects the image of the viewer as he/she searches for the names of friends or loved ones.

     Dedicated in 1976, the Constitution Gardens are a 50-acre "living legacy American Revolution Bicentennial Tribute." In July 1982, the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence was dedicated on the small island of the lake.

     Opened in 2004, the National World War II Memorial is dedicated to the men and women who served their country in both the armed forces and as citizens during that conflict. The memorial consists of 56 pillars and a small pair of triumphal arches that surround a plaza and a fountain. The 17 foot tall pillars form a semicircle around the plaza and are inscribed with the names of the 48 states and 8 territories that formed the United States during the conflict. The 43-foot arches are dedicated to the two fronts of the war - the Atlantic and Pacific. The Freedom Wall on the west side of the memorial includes 4,048 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the conflict.

     Some of the other memorials and monuments within the National Mall include: the African American Civil War Memorial, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, the Belmont-Paul National Women's Equality National Monument, the District of Columbia War Memorial, the National World War I Memorial, the Old Post Office Tower, and the Pennsylvania Avenue NHS and Park.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - DC by Foot is the city's most popular tour group and offers "free" walking tours of several different sites around the Washington including a highly acclaimed National Mall tour. They are listed as free, because you can name your own price; but you are expected to pay what you think the tour was worth.
- Free same day tickets to the Washington Monument are available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th St. Since they go fast, you may want reserve tickets ahead of time for a fee at this site.
- I would recommend going to the National Parks website to help plan your visit.
- During the summer, it gets very hot. Since drinking fountains aren't always readily available, make sure you bring plenty of water.

Nearby: Tidal Basin Paddle Boats, Smithsonian Museums, The White House, Teddy Roosevelt Island