Monuments and Memorials
Washington, DC, is known worldwide for its many monuments and memorials. A walk down Constitution Avenue will lead you to numerous sites that honor military heroes, patriots and others who have been instrumental in our country's history and democracy. Here's a list of some of the most visited sites in DC.
Ranger Talks and Tours around the National Mall and Memorials
Various locations around the National Mall including the Tidal Basin
Most programs free and require no ticket, search 'ranger talk' on the National Park Service calendar for specifics.
Rangers from the National Park service offer a number of ranger talks and tours about the memorials on the National Mall and surrounding areas. Visit the National Park Service calendarfor a list of upcoming events. Many of these lectures and tours are free and will compliment any tour of Washington.
Ranger Run along the National Mall
Various starting locations on the National Mall
No admission charged.
Search 'Ranger Run' on the National Park Service calendar for specific start location and time.
At various times in the spring and summer, the National Park Service offers a “Ranger Run” along the National Mall in Washington. The runs maintain an average pace of 10 minutes per mile and guides visitors along some of the most iconic sites in the city.
The runs are offered as staffing allows. More information along with scheduled dates can be found on the National Park Service website under the "Calendar" tab. Search “ranger run national mall.”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
(202) 426-6841
400 West Basin Drive SW, Washington, D.C. 20242
Nearest intersection is West Basin Drive SW & Ohio Drive SW
Hours and Admission
Memorial is open 24 hours
National Park Service Rangers are available from 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged
The monument to our 32nd President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is located along the Cherry Tree Walk at the western edge of the Tidal Basin. It is a sequence of four outdoor sections- one devoted to each of FDR’s four terms in office.
The sculptures and artwork throughout the sections strive to provide an accurate depiction of FDR and include a 10-foot statue of him seated in a wheeled chair. The memorial was erected in 1997.
Jefferson Memorial
(202) 426-6841
16 East Basin Drive, SW Washington, DC 200024
Hours and Admission
Memorial is open 24 hours
National Park Service Rangers are available from 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged
The monument to our 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson, resembles the Roman Parthenon with marble steps, a portico and a high dome. The walls are inscribed with Jefferson's statements philosophies. The memorial, which was dedicated in 1943, and the nearby Tidal Basin are surrounded by Japanese cherry trees donated by the city of Tokyo in 1912. The Jefferson Memorial area is at the center of festivities during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
Korean War Memorial
(202) 426-6841
Located Southeast of the Lincoln Memorial, south of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
Hours and Admission
Memorial is open 24 hours
National Park Service Rangers are available from 9:30am-10pm No admission charged
The design of the Korean War Memorial gives visitors an idea of what it was like for U.S. soldiers serving in Korea from 1950 to 1953. It features 19 larger-than-life-sized statues representing a squad on patrol, a long black granite wall with photographic images, and a Pool of Remembrance. The memorial, dedicated in 1995, provides a stirring tribute to one and a half million veterans who served in the Korean War.
Lincoln Memorial
(202) 426-6841
2 Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW Washington, DC 20002
Hours and Admission
Memorial is open 24 hours
National Park Service Rangers are available from 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged
Serving as a solemn remembrance of the legacy of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, the Lincoln Memorial is a must see for Civil War buffs. This 28-foot tall statue was dedicated on May 30, 1922, and is located at the west end of the National Mall, and resembles a Greek Doric temple.
Its 36 columns represent the states of the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. It has been the site of many historic gatherings and speeches, including 1963's "I Have A Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
Located outside on the West side of the Pentagon
Arlington, VA
Hours and Admission
Open 24 hours, year-round
No admission charged
Honoring the 184 souls who were killed when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed in to the Pentagon, the memorial is arranged as a timeline, beginning with the youngest victim and ending with the oldest. Arranged on this timeline are raised memorials with the names of each victim, floating above pools of water. Each memorial is positioned to distinguish victims who were in the Pentagon from those who were on board Flight 77. When visiting each raised memorial, if one reads the victim's name and sees the Pentagon in the background, it indicates that person was in the Pentagon when the plane struck. If one sees the sky away from the Pentagon, that victim was aboard Flight 77.
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
E Street between 4th and 5th Streets, NW
Hours and Admission
Memorial is open 24 hours
No admission charged
Maps may be downloaded for self-guided tours; group tours may be arranged through the Memorial's website.
The National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial is a somber memorial that honors all of our country’s law enforcement personnel. A wall contains the names of the more than 17,500 officers who have been killed in the line of duty since 1792.
At an annual candlelight vigil held each year during National Police Week in May, the names of officers who have fallen in the last year are added. The Visitors Center highlights the Memorial and contains more than 30 exhibits and an interactive video kiosk, as well as display cases with mementos left at the Memorial.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Northbound lanes between Roosevelt Bridge and Key Bridge Arlington, VA 22209
Hours and Admission
Island is open 6am-10pm
No admission charged
This wooded 88.5 acre sanctuary on the Potomac River is dedicated to our conservation-minded 26th President, Teddy Roosevelt. Nature trails run throughout the island; hidden deep inside the island is a large memorial statue of Roosevelt. One of Roosevelt’s greatest legacies was his dedication to conservation. The island is only accessible over a footbridge from the Virginia bank of the Potomac River. No bicycles are permitted, but there are plenty of walking opportunities.
U.S. Air Force Memorial
(703) 979-0674
One Air Force Memorial Drive Arlington, VA 22204
Hours and Admission
8am-11pm April 1-September 30
8am-9pm October 1-March 31
Closed Christmas Day
No admission charged
The U.S. Air Force memorial is a display of three, stainless steel spires honoring the Air Force's three core values: "Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do." Additionally, the spires also represent three of four planes performing a Missing Man formation.
U.S. Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial)
(703) 289-2500 for scheduled events
Hours and Admission
Memorial is open 6am-midnight
No admission charged
During the summer, the US Marine Corps holds Sunset Parades at the memorial on Tuesday evenings. The memorial plaza is closed to the public from 6pm-9 pm on Tuesdays in June and July and from 5:30pm-8:30pm on August 5 and August 12.
The bronze replica of the iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning photo taken by photographer Joe Rosenthal shortly after the Battle of Iwo Jima commemorates the soldiers of the U.S. Marine Corps who fell in the line of duty. The base of the memorial contains the names and dates of every principal Marine Corps engagement since the founding of the Corps. You can also enjoy the nearby Netherlands Carillon.
U.S. Navy Memorial
(202) 380-0710
701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
Between 7th and 9th Streets
Hours and Admission
Open daily 9:30am-5pm
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
The Lone Sailor Statue was dedicated in 1992 and it stands on the Quarterdeck of the Naval Heritage Center adjacent to the Memorial Plaza. It is surrounded by fountains, pools, flagpole masts and sculptural panels depicting historic achievements of the Navy and sea services. The statue was designed by sculptor Stanley Bleifeld, and represents all those who have served, are serving and have yet to serve in the Navy and other sea services. The nearby Naval Heritage Center is open to the public.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
(202) 426-6841
5 Henry Bacon Dr NW, Washington, DC 20037
Hours and Admission
Memorial is open 24 hours
National Park Service Rangers available 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged
"The Wall" is a somber tribute to those men and women who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. It honors those who died by listing their names on the Memorial Wall, a sleek expanse of black granite that sinks into the ground in a V-shape. The award-winning design by Maya Lin was selected from nearly 1,500 entries, and the Memorial was dedicated in 1982.
Items are frequently left at The Wall by family members, friends and comrades of those who served in the war. You can locate specific names on The Wall through a directory placed at the west end of the memorial.
Nearby are two additional statues: The Three Soldiers and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial that honor contributions made by those groups during the war.
Washington Monument
2 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20024
The 555-foot monument to our 1st President, George Washington, is the world's tallest stone structure. Dedicated in 1885, it is shaped like an Egyptian obelisk and took 40 years to build. The 50 flags that surround the base of the monument represent the 50 states.
World War II Memorial
(202) 426-6841
1750 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20006
Hours and Admission
Memorial is open 24 hours,
National Park Service Rangers are available 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged
The National World War II Memorial, dedicated in 2004, commemorates the sacrifice and celebrates the victory of the of the WWII generation. It honors the 16 million who served, those at home who supported the war, and the more than 400,000 who died in the conflict. The Freedom Wall contains 4,448 stars, one for every 100 Americans who died in WWII. The History and Culture section of the WWII Memorial website has great information on the symbolism of the design of the memorial, along with details on the 24 bronze bas-relief panels that flank the entrance. The panels are designed to reflect black & white photos or newsreel images from the era.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
1964 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
Located at the intersection of Independence Ave. and West Basin Drive, SW
Hours and Admission
Memorial is open 24 hours
National Park Service Rangers are available 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged
The monument to Martin Luther King, Jr. is located along the Potomac Tidal Basin and provides a compelling environment for reflection. As only the fourth non-President to be memorialized this way, Martin Luther King, Jr. boldly towers above onlookers, in the form of solid granite, standing as a symbol of the worldwide quest for civil rights for all people. The monument is themed after Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech with massive stones symbolizing the “mountain of despair” and a “stone of hope”. It includes an inscription wall with excerpts from some of his most celebrated speeches.
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