Walking the Washington Mall

The Washington Mall is the two-mile green strip of land in Washington, DC that reaches from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial is a National Park. It’s a great place to walk and enjoy. Here are some of the highlights and landmarks right down the center of this Washington Mall. And a word of warning: On a map, this looks like a small park you can easily jaunt along from end to end. Those two miles seem very long when you’re on the ground, especially in 90+ degree heat, but we walked the distance on more than one day of our recent trip. The sights are worth the effort!

Poet Walt Whitman wrote in the 1800s that the Washington Mall is a place of “democratic vistas, where the American people assemble to play, attend cultural events, or petition the government for change.” So much of American history has taken place within these two miles, and it’s amazing to be here in person.

The Capitol

At one end sits the distinctive Capitol Building. When you are in this lawmaking arm of the government, you are said to be “on the hill.” It’s not steep, but it does anchor one end of the Mall. The cornerstone of the building was laid by President George Washington in 1793. Construction stalled and the Capitol finally opened in 1819.  It’s a large building, and we weren’t sure what is the front and what is the back. When we toured, we went in the “side” entrance. It doesn’t really matter. This is a majestic building from any angle.

The Library of Congress

Next to the Capitol is the lovely Library of Congress.

The Supreme Court

Next door you’ll find the Supreme Court. We didn’t go in, but it’s comforting to know that two arms of the government are right across the street from each other. Checks and balances are evident here.

Washington Monument

From far and near you can see the Washington Monument, soaring 555 feet in the sky. On completion in 1885, it stood as the tallest structure in the world. A steam-powered elevator whisked visitors to the top. The monument is currently closed for renovation, but you can circle around it and use it as a landmark if you’re lost (yes, we got lost!).

World War II Memorial

Walking around the Washington Monument, you come to the impressive World War II Memorial. This honors the 16 million Americans who served in uniform in the war. Granite columns representing each of the states and territories at the time of war curve around a fountain. A wall of 4,048 stars, each standing for 100 people, represents the more than 400,000 Americans who paid the price to win the war.

Secret detail: An etching of Kilroy was Here, a World War II graphic, is hidden behind the Delaware column. It took us more than one trip to find it!

Lincoln Memorial

Now you have reached the famous reflecting pool between the Washington Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.

Rallies, concerts, and parties take place around this pool. The most well known is likely the all-day event when Martin Luther King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. When you get to the stairs, look for the notation in the landing for the exact spot where King stood on that day.

On to the Lincoln Memorial. Lincoln sits looking out on the Washington Mall. Read the words of his Gettysburg Address etched in the wall beside him. Seeing my favorite president larger than life in this stately memorial was so moving.

Here is the view from the top of the Lincoln Memorial steps. See the Capitol Building WAY in the distance?

We came back to the Lincoln Memorial at sunset our second day here. Walking the Mall gives you a feeling for how fragile the country is, how close it came to being split in two, what problems are still not solved, and how all arms of the government are imperfect but work to balance each other. It’s quite a perspective, and beautiful, too.

How about you? Have you visited Washington DC? Did you walk the Mall?

For more information and to plan a trip, visit the National Park site. And these guides have so much helpful information on visiting Washington, D.C.

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