Top Things to do in National Mall
10 Things to do in National Mall That You Shouldn't Miss
Washington DC is a hub for American politics and history. Attracting as many school field trips as it does travelers the district offers a peek into the country’s democratic origin. There are plenty of free museums to take advantage of but the real draw here is the memorials and monuments dedicated to great American leaders. Spend some contemplative time at the Reflecting Pool within the National Mall, among the most patriotic places in the country.
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1. National Gallery of Art
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9,190 reviews
We belong to you. The National Gallery of Art—the nation’s museum—preserves, collects, exhibits, & fosters understanding of works of art.
Reviewed By kazoochance - New Haven, United States
Just go here and check out both spectacular buildings - the modern IM Pei East Wing and the the lovely old classical West Building - especially by taking the underground passageway - and feel the differences and greatness of both classical and modern culture! Go stand in front of so many paintings you’ve seen in art books and marvel at Van Gogh and his luminous color and thick paint just inches away, and Gauguin with his bright colored patterns and shapes on the other side of the room... be amazed at the brilliant details of light in the Dutch masters and Salvador’s Dali’s Last Supper... And take your kids! Just go by feel and see what pulls you ...and maybe appreciate your good fortune for getting to be alive and able to appreciate that there is so much beauty in the world after all.
2. Supreme Court
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,480 reviews
A Corinthian-style building where the final guardians of the Constitution deliberate.
Reviewed By cordyroy - Naples, United States
Walking around this beautiful building you are constantly reminded the history is being made with every decision passed down from the Supreme Court of the United States. The introductory film was very interesting and the lecture given in the courtroom was very informative. Both spoke to the process by which a case is presented to and decided upon by the court.
3. Jefferson Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,414 reviews
A 19-foot bronze statue of perhaps the most esteemed founding father sits beneath a columned rotunda in the style of the Roman Pantheon.
Reviewed By sergeyb324
Having been to Jefferson Memorial before I still couldn’t miss a chance to visit it again as my stay in DC provided me with some free time. Notwithstanding the fact that they are doing restoration work on the cupola and the roof and the outside of the building is covered in scaffolding and the outside doesn’t look as magnificent as usually, the place is full of the feeling of grandeur and awe. The inside is as impressive as ever and the presence of the great man is almost palpable. This being off season, I happened to be entirely alone there and it was such a great feeling as if I was listening to Jefferson reading out his words that are captured there on the panels. This memorial appears to me to be a deserving tribute to one of the greatest minds not only of his time but rather of all times.
4. Library of Congress
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,003 reviews
Though the Library of Congress doesn't own every book ever published, it sure has most of them, with 532 miles of shelves and 115 million items, with 7,000 added each working day.
Reviewed By MrsBear49 - Poole, United Kingdom
As part of our visit to the Capitol building we saw there were tunnels leading to the Library of Congress so decided to explore. It is a beautiful building and it is important to remember to look up at the ceilings which are very decorative. The library offers lots of wonderful photo opportunities and also houses the books of Thomas Jefferson along with a number of other interesting exhibitions including a beautifully preserved Gutenberg Bible. The actual library is not accessible but can be seen from the viewing gallery. The amazing thing is that all this is free.
5. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,153 reviews
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Tickets are only needed from March 1 to August 31 to visit the Museum's Permanent Exhibition, which tells the history of the Holocaust from 1933 to 1945. Exhibitions Include: Permanent Exhibition: The Holocaust Spanning three floors, the self-guided Permanent Exhibition presents a narrative history of the Holocaust and features historical artifacts, photographs, and film footage. Personal objects and the concluding eyewitness testimonies highlight the stories of individuals. Recommended for ages 11 or older. The Portal: A Real-Time Conversation with People Forced to Flee Persecution The Shared Studios Portal allows you to have a face-to-face conversation with someone in another part of the world-as if you are standing in the same room. Through this installation, visitors will be able to converse in real time with displaced persons or refugees in Iraq, Jordan, and Germany Remember the Children: Daniel's Story Representing the experiences of many Jewish children during the Nazi era, "Daniel" narrates through his diary the history of the Holocaust in ways that children can understand. Recreated environments present life in a middle-class German home, in a Jewish ghetto in occupied Poland, and finally at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The exhibition is explicit without being graphic. Recommended for ages 8 or older. Some Were Neighbors: Collaboration & Complicity in the Holocaust Some Were Neighbors: Collaboration & Complicity in the Holocaust addresses one of the central questions about the Holocaust: How was it possible? The central role of Hitler and other Nazi Party leaders is indisputable. Less well understood is these perpetrators' dependence on countless others for the execution of Nazi racial policies. Within Nazi Germany and across German-dominated Europe, circles of collaboration and complicity rippled throughout governments and societies wherever victims of persecution and mass murder lived.
Reviewed By tikvah48
This museum has become one of the most popular in Washington DC. With the rise of anti-semitism and white supremacy in the US, the Holocaust Museum takes on a more important meaning. This is a museum of America's conscience and visitors should not miss the current exhibit about America and its response to the Holocaust. Those who are family members of victims and survivors can access the museum database to search for family information. Executive Director Sara Bloomfield has doe an outstanding job creating a must see- eye opening and thought provoking experience.
6. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,849 reviews
Emotionally stirring memorial pays tribute to the men and women who served in one of America's most controversial wars.
Reviewed By SimbaFamily
It was very nicely done and just beautiful lots of staff around to help you find names etc. everyone there was proud of their job and helpful to people trying to find loved ones names.
7. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,205 reviews
Established in 1910 and located on the National Mall, this prestigious museum, part of the Smithsonian Institution, holds the world's most extensive collection of natural history specimens and human artifacts including the remains of dinosaurs and tools used by early man.
Reviewed By keithww81 - Philadelphia, United States
Great museum full of wonderful exhibits on dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures, gems and minerals, early Human artifacts and ancestry, animals and insects (including taxidermy specimens and fossils), mummies, and more! Best of all, entrance is FREE! I particularly like the gem and mineral collection. So amazing and beautiful.
8. Washington Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,309 reviews
The Washington Monument elevator is closed until spring 2019.
Reviewed By DCN2012 - New York City, United States
As a native Washingtonian, I've had the privilege of seeing this iconic monument stand tall throughout my life and so many historic events. Even during the much needed year plus renovation (several years ago), gave it a 'must see - can't wait' allure. The Washington Monument has a presence of its own; pristine, regal, official and inviting. For a unique, one of a kind adventure, walk up and see the Nation's Capital from an unparalleled perspective. Of course, there are many people and activity inside and out but that's all a part of what enhances the overall experience. Grab the fam, the crew or just you, it takes you up and that's a good thing.
9. Smithsonian Institution Building
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,538 reviews
The world's largest museum and research complex is actually comprised of 19 museums and the National Zoo, with subjects that vary from African Art to the postal service, sculpture to space exploration.
Reviewed By 877jacquif
The Castle, site of the Smithsonian Museums’ Visitor Centre, is like a heavenly haven in the heat of a mid-summer visit to the National Mall. Located near the middle of the south side of the Mall, it’s perfectly placed either to get your bearings at the start of a visit to the Smithsonian Museums, or to take a break out of the sun in summer (or the cold in winter presumably). There is handy info there on all the other museums and a shop selling souvenirs from across the museum estate. There’s also a small café serving beverages and cakes and crisps and so on. Don’t expect to get a big nutritious meal there, but you will find snacks which will keep body and soul together until your next meal. The loos are also a bonus. There wasn’t a lot of info there about the building itself, which was (just so you know) designed by James Renwick Jr, who’s also responsible for a lot of the churches in Manhattan, and completed in 1855. Parts of it later burned down in 1865; the blaze taking with it all of Smithson’s letters. But it opened again in about 1867 and is now a great place to stop off on the National Mall.
10. National Mall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,259 reviews
Open area of gardens, fountains, trees and monuments stretching nearly two miles between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.
Reviewed By gvr001 - Laurel, United States
Despite living in Maryland, it has been a few years since we had visited the Mall. It was a cool, sunny, 60 degree day, and the Cherry Blossoms had not yet bloomed. Despite all the Smithsonian museums being closed, we thought this would be a fun outing, and we were not disappointed. We arrived at the Lincoln Memorial around 10:30, and parked on 17th street. We had 2 hours of parking. We walked to the Lincoln Memorial, and then walked down to the Korean memorial, Martin Luther King, and then FDR. Each one is peaceful, beautiful, and powerful in its own way. We then walked around the tidal basin to the Jefferson Memorial, which was under construction. Bathrooms were open at MLK and Jefferson. We walked quickly back and retraced our steps before our parking expired. We then drove to 21st street (around F street) and parked again. We had lunch at one of the food trucks across from the Washington Monument. We walked to the Washington Monument, then WWII, and then walked back to our car (2:45). The total distance walked was around 6.5 miles, and it was a wonderful visit of almost all the monuments (we missed Vietnam). Our children (11&13) were old enough to appreciate the powerful history of these monuments, and had the energy for the walking. A great way to spend a day outside.
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