Walking the National Mall: A First Trip Through Washington, DC’s Monuments and Memorials

The soaring spire blocked the morning sun, casting an elongated shadow across the well-kept lawn. As the morning star eased above the spire’s peak, the 555-foot natural stone obelisk gleamed above our heads. Framed in brilliant light, the Washington Monument is an impressive and iconic towering ode to our first president.

The day had not started out quite as promising. Arising before sunrise, we joined the queue by 7:30 for the release of walk-up tickets to enter the Washington Monument. Online tickets had been sold out for weeks. 

While in line, we met Teri, a nurse from Michigan, and her son Matt. They are hosting a Korean exchange student and wanted to share the country’s history with him. They could think of no better place than the capital city.

By the time the 8:45 ticket window opened, the line had grown to more than a hundred. We had inched to within 5 feet when a sold-out sign was placed in the window. With groans, we wished each other better luck next time and went our separate ways.

Cherry Blossoms on the Tidal Basin

A path girdling the Tidal Basin, part of the National Mall, was covered in a gentle layer of petals like the first snowfall of the season. We strolled toward the Jefferson Memorial and embraced an unseasonably warm day in our nation’s Capital. We purposely chose a spring visit to the Capitol to see the famed blossoming Cherry trees. It was looking up for our first trip to DC.

The remarkable cherry blossoms around Washington’s Tidal Basin are nature’s fiery announcement that spring is here. The famous trees, a gift of Japan in 1912, signal the beginning of the season. A burst of color surrounds the Tidal Basin in a sea of pale pink and white blossoms.

The Jefferson, MLK and FDR Memorials

Situated on the Tidal Basin with its hundreds of Cherry trees in Washington, DC, the Jefferson Memorial, dedicated in April 1943 on the 200th anniversary of Jefferson’s birth, houses a 19-foot bronze of Thomas Jefferson that dominates the white marble interior.

The circular, open-air memorial, based on the Pantheon in Rome, is 165 feet in diameter, with a marble exterior. Under the dome, four quotations from Jefferson can be found carved on the walls.

The one that continues to resonate and the one we seem to struggle the most with begins: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”

The trail continued on, passing by the towering granite Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, inspired by his line, “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”

Also located on the path is the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. In honor of FDR’s four terms, it features four outdoor displays, including one of his most memorable quotes: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

 Two men who spoke of seeking better lives for the downtrodden.

America’s Front Yard

There are blister-free options for seeing DC, but Washington is a city best seen on foot. And the National Mall, without doubt, is the most walked stretch of the city. 

The Mall is the very soul of Washington, D.C. It is an amazing strip of emerald landscape in the heart of the city, stretching over 2 miles from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial. Filled with monuments, memorials and museums, it is a swath of land honoring the legacy and history of the United States. It is often referred to as “America’s front yard.”

It is where the values of our nation and those who have championed them are enshrined. The west end of the National Mall is home to some of the most iconic monuments and memorials, many of which people have only seen in books or on the back of their money.

Honoring Those Who Served

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial’s somberness is palpable. Finished in 1982, it has no grand façade, no palatial vaulted ceiling, and no soaring tower. Instead, its sloping black granite walls are recessed into the ground. The intersecting walls list more than 58,000 names of those who died. While we were standing there, one woman used paper and pencil to etch a name, while another placed a small bouquet of flowers. 

Nearby, a poignant memorial honors the contributions of the many women who risked their lives to serve their country. As one bronzed, upturned face looks skyward for an unseen helicopter, another nurse cradles a wounded soldier while a third kneels beside them. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial is a tribute to the 265,000 women who served during the Vietnam era.

These are memorials that may have helped to heal, but they have not erased the scar.

Across the Reflecting Pool to the south stands the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Nineteen larger-than-life soldiers clad in ponchos on perpetual patrol slogged across a “rice paddy”. Their weary, wary expressions, permanently etched in steel, gazed upon us as though they wondered if we were friends or foes. It is devastatingly effective.

At the eastern end of the reflecting pool is the World War II Memorial. 56 granite pillars encircle the Rainbow Pool, which is enhanced by matching fountains. Entering the circle, we walked along walls that pictured scenes of the war. Our serene stroll around the 7-acre memorial seemed completely at odds with such a shattering conflict.

Return to the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument dominates the skyline of the District of Columbia. Wherever you are in the city, you can fix your bearings by looking skyward for that venerable stone needle.

It had taken us two days of trying, a few hours of standing in line, and some anxious moments. But we were now ensconced 500’ above the green lawn below atop the world’s tallest stone obelisk. We had returned even earlier the following morning from our disappointing try the day before. We were rewarded with tickets for the first entry of the day. The views were truly amazing. To skip the ticket line, book these Washington Monument admission tickets in advance.

Construction began in 1848 as a privately funded enterprise but stalled for lack of funds. The Civil War also kept it idle for years. When work restarted in 1879, builders used marble from a different quarry. Up close, you can see a clear line where the stone’s color changes partway up. The monument was dedicated in 1885 and opened to the public in 1888.

The monument opened in 1885. From the viewing platform, you can see the White House, the Capitol Building and virtually all of the most recognized memorials and sites.

The World’s Largest Museum

Known as “the nation’s attic,” the Smithsonian Institution tells the story of our country. Repository for all of the United States’ important historical artifacts, the sheer volume of that responsibility has forced it to expand to 21 museums, art galleries and the National Zoo.

It has become the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, and all are open free to the public.

If you have lots of time- I’m talking weeks, in fact- the Smithsonian museums offer a window into the nation’s history, culture, and what it took to pursue its “experiment” with democracy. Eleven of the museums are located on the National Mall.

Unfortunately, we did not have weeks or even days, so we settled on one.

Inside the Museum of Natural History

One of the more celebrated Smithsonian Museums is the Museum of Natural History. It is literally packed to the roof with exhibits on the natural sciences. 

It was obvious why the Museum is a favorite with kids, from its life-sized model of a North Atlantic right whale diving from the ceiling to the massive African elephant in the main hall, but especially the dinosaur gallery with its Triceratops and a towering T-rex. I confess the dinosaurs were a favorite of mine, too. 

Our visit coincided with spring break for much of the country, which was obvious from the throngs of students who had descended upon Washington.

Under normal circumstances, the youthful crowds could have deterred us from some of the sites. However, watching them embrace the treasures, discover the history, and learn of the individuals who helped shape the nation they live in was gratifying. 

Their enthusiasm, sparked not by some overstimulating theme park but by the riches of our country, added to my own gusto for the experience.

The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial

Standing on the western side of the U.S. Capitol, the General Ulysses S. Grant Memorial honors the Union Army’s commanding general, who later became the country’s 18th president. 

With the Capitol behind him, the imposing figure of Grant mounted on his horse faces the Lincoln Memorial almost two miles to the west. It was as though the two men who helped save the Union were sharing a silent acknowledgment.

The Lincoln Memorial

A visit to Washington, D.C. has to include what I believe is the most revered of the memorials.

As we climbed the four score and seven steps toward the marble chamber holding the sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, each footfall heightened the tangible anticipation that enveloped us. Standing before the 19’ tall, century-old sculpture, conflicting feelings of both pride and sadness finally retreated into a wonderment.  

The 5-story, open-air Greek-style temple sits with its back towards the Potomac River, facing the Capitol 2 miles away. Although the cavernous chamber was inundated with visitors, a reverent hush pervaded the hall. Even though you feel small compared to its massive proportions, Lincoln exudes an almost intimate feeling.

Immortalized in marble, the 16th President sits slightly forward from his commanding throne, feet flat underneath bent legs, with the right forward of the left, as though determined to rise to face the next challenge. Above his stern but benevolent countenance are etched these words: 

“In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.”

As we tilted our heads upwards towards that all too familiar face, I could not help but think that he was watching over the crowds with the protective gaze of a loving father.

The memorials take on a different mood after dark, when the marble glows and the crowds thin out. This small-group moonlight tour of Washington, DC visits the Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr. and World War II memorials with no more than 13 guests.

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Inspire your next adventure with our articles below:

• A First-Time Visit to Washington, D.C.: Beyond the National Mall
• Unlock Washington DC’s Cultural Heart: A Guide to Museums, Monuments, and Masterpieces

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