Things to do nearNational Mall

The National Mall has served as the ceremonial and democratic heart of the United States since the city of Washington was laid out in the late eighteenth century following Pierre Charles L'Enfant's grand urban plan. Over the centuries it has been the site of presidential inaugurations, civil rights marches, and large-scale public gatherings that have shaped the national conversation. The two-mile corridor is anchored at its western end by the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 1963 'I Have a Dream' speech, and at its eastern end by the United States Capitol. Along the way, the Washington Monument rises at the center of the grounds, offering panoramic views of the city from its observation deck.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the World War II Memorial each occupy quiet corners of the Mall and invite genuine reflection. Running along both sides of the central lawn, the Smithsonian Institution operates more than a dozen free museums covering everything from natural history and aeronautics to American art and African American culture, making the Mall one of the most concentrated museum corridors in the world.

Food carts and nearby cafes provide simple meals and snacks for visitors on the move. The Mall is equally welcoming in every season, from summer concerts on the lawn to the ice rink that opens on the National Gallery of Art's sculpture garden in winter. Few places in the country offer such an immediate connection to the full arc of American history, making the National Mall a destination that rewards every kind of visitor.