Planning will be your best friend if you want to see the monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. The city has hundreds of monuments, memorials, statues, and historic sites. Deciding which ones to see can be mind-boggling, but it doesn’t have to be. There may be hundreds of monuments and memorials in Washington DC, but only a few are required viewing.
Deciding which monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. to see may be easier than determining whether you’ll see them at night or the day because the monuments have a different look depending on the sun or moon above. I’ve been to the city several times, and these are the monuments that take my breath away any time of day or night.
1 Washington Monument
There are roughly a dozen monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. dedicated to U.S. presidents. These, not surprisingly, are also among the most elaborate and visually stunning.
The most spectacular and famous of all monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. is the Washington Monument.
Because of its height, you can see this monument from all over the city. It’s a 555 feet tall Egyptian-style stone obelisk honoring the United States’ first President, George Washington. A large, green park filled with flags surrounds it. The 500-foot tall grey stone column includes a 55-foot pointed top called a pyramidion. It has walls 15 feet thick at the bottom and 11 feet thick at its top. The inside is hollow, and an elevator can take visitors to a viewing platform at the top.
Fun fact: the marble color changes about 150 feet from the bottom because construction stalled for 20 years during and after the Civil War. Once the building commenced, they needed to get the marble from a different quarry.
Tickets to go inside the monument are free except for the $1 service charge per ticket.
2 Lincoln Memorial
After the Washington Monument, the most iconic and beloved of all the monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. is the Lincoln Memorial. Built for the 16th President of the United States, the Lincoln Memorial looks like a neoclassical temple. It is located on the western end of the National Mall with a direct sightline to the Washington Monument. The Reflecting Pool in front of it is a favorite place for pictures with the Washington Monument mirrored in its depths.
The interior of the Lincoln Memorial is divided into three chambers with a larger-than-life seated statue of Abraham Lincoln in the center. The statue is 19 feet tall from head to foot. If you scaled this to a standing Lincoln, it would be 28 feet tall. The glow from the glass ceiling above creates an atmosphere of quiet reflection and awe. Each time I’ve visited, I’ve seen people stand before it with tears in their eyes, myself included.
Fun fact: Thirty-six fluted Doric columns surround the memorial representing the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death.
3 Jefferson Memorial
The Jefferson Memorial exterior is one of the most picturesque of any monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. It sits alongside the Tidal Basin, and dozens of Japanese Cherry Blossom trees flank it. The blooms are fragrant and cast the monument in pink and white in the springtime. As the third United States President, Jefferson is best known as the writer of the Declaration of Independence.
Architects modeled the building’s exterior to look like the Parthenon in Rome, Jefferson’s home, Monticello in Virginia, and the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, making it appear instantly familiar. Inside, The Jefferson statue stands 19 feet tall on a pedestal in the center of the open-air room below a coffered ceiling. He holds a copy of the declaration in his left hand and columns and quotes from Jefferson surround it. Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., who designed the grounds of New York City’s Central Park, designed the landscape around the memorial.
Fun fact: Monticello is the only private residence featured on U.S. currency. It’s the house on the back of the nickel.
4 John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame
The John F. Kennedy gravesite is unlike the other monuments and memorials in Washington D.C., but it is just as striking and worth visiting. This memorial in Arlington National Cemetery for assassinated President John F. Kennedy features a circular granite walkway and, at the grave, an eternal flame.
The Eternal Flame burns from the center of a five-foot circular granite stone at the head of the grave and, as the name implies, is intended to always stay lit. He is buried alongside his wife and two children.
Interesting fact: Jacqueline Kennedy lit the eternal flame with a candle at the end of the burial service.
5 Korean War Veterans Memorial
While there are several monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. dedicated to various wars, such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and World War II Memorial, it is the design of the Korean War Veterans Memorial that is the most memorable.
At the memorial entrance, the visitors walk along a 300-foot-long ascending ramp flanked by the figures of 38 seven-foot-tall stainless steel statues of marching soldiers in a triangle field. They appear to march through a backdrop of war. The figures are intended to bring to mind the lines of soldiers moving across the Korean landscape during the war.
6 Martin Luther King, Jr.
Aside from U.S. Presidents and wars, many monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. commemorate individuals who’ve shaped the United States through their great work.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is undoubtedly one of these people. His monument is a shining testament to his life, and works as a leader in the civil rights movement and a tireless advocate for racial equality, the working class, and oppressed people.
At first glance, this newest memorial on the National Mall appears unfinished, but you quickly realize that is symbolic. The monument, titled “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope,” comes from King’s “I Have A Dream” speech and serves as the theme of the memorial. King stands, arms crossed, only partially revealed from a mountain of stone. The monument appears incomplete to symbolize his incomplete life. He was assassinated in 1968. Around the statue, walls are filled with King’s most memorable quotes.
Cost to see the Monuments and Memorials in Washington D.C.
There are no fees to enter or visit the monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. Still, timed entry tickets are required for Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site and the interior of the Washington Monument. Entry is only during working hours.
The monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. are open 24 hours a day. During the day and early evening, when it first gets dark, are the busiest times to visit. Many monuments and memorials have spectacular lighting in the nighttime, making it an incredibly picturesque time to visit.
The Best Way to Get Around the National Mall
The most challenging aspect of seeing the many monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. is getting from one to the other in a congested city. You can take the D.C. Circulator Bus, drive yourself, walk, use the metro, bike, or pay for a guided tour.
The National Mall is only two miles long, but getting to each site can add considerable distance. Biking is a great option, but there is a lot of traffic – and many tourists who don’t know the roads – so it can be dangerous. Driving is an excellent way to get around, too but finding parking entry lots can be difficult. I’ve circled many times looking for parking and missing the turns!
The easiest way is going on a tour because they drop you off at the foot of monuments and memorials and give you a ton of associated facts and information, but the cost can be high. An affordable option to do similar is the D.C. Circulator Bus. The National Mall route stops at 29 sports fields, 14 museums and 13 monuments and memorials. The base fare for D.C. Circulator rides is $1 per person per trip. It’s probably the easiest and most affordable way to get around the monuments and memorials in Washington D.C.
Lastly, the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (metro) runs trains and buses in Washington. Their systems are to navigate but can require a bit more walking from stations than the D.C. Circulator Bus. Fares range from $2 to $6 depending on the time and day.
If You Visit the Monuments and Memorials in Washington D.C.
Depending on how you get around, you can spend between three hours and an entire day visiting monuments and memorials in Washington D.C. First, you should look up all the national historic sites, buildings, monuments, memorials and museums to figure out what you want to see. There are hundreds of places worth visiting in the city, and researching and creating a plan or map will serve you well. Because of the number of people, traffic and parking issues, expect everything to take a little longer than usual and you’ll be able to enjoy your time in this fabulous place.
Read other stories about Virginia here.
