On the National Mall in Washington, DC

The National Mall is the central point of most sightseeing visits to Washington, DC. It is the area with Constitution Avenue to the north, Independence Avenue to the south, 3rd Street to the east and 14th Street to the west. The Washington Monument towers above the city at the west end of the National Mall and the U. S. Capitol Building stands tall to the east.

The impressive architecture of the monuments and memorials combined with the natural beauty of the city has made our Nation's Capital one of the most heavily visited and beautiful places in the world. Nine of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution are located on the National Mall. These world class museums offer a variety of exhibits ranging from art to space exploration. There truly is something for everyone.

The landscape of the National Mall includes more than 2,000 American elm trees that line the streets and over 170 flowerbeds that are botanical showplaces. The National Mall is not just a great place to visit our world class museums and national landmarks, but also a gathering place to picnic and attend outdoor festivals.

See Photos of the National Mall

The Washington Monument

The monument honoring our first president, George Washington, is the tallest structure in the Nation's Capital and towers 555 feet above the National Mall. Ride the elevator to the top to see a spectacular view of the city. The Washington Monument is open from 8 a. m. until midnight, seven days a week, April through Labor Day. The remainder of the year, the hours are from 9 a. m. until 5 p. m.

The U. S. Capitol Building

Because of increased security the Capitol is open to the public for guided tours only. Tours are conducted from 9 a. m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Visitors must obtain free tickets at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk located near the intersection of First Street, S.W., and Independence Avenue.

Museums on the National Mall

Museums on the National Mall include many of the Smithsonian Museums, the National Gallery of Art and the U. S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. There is so much to see in these museums, that you can not see it all in one day. Since the exhibits are free, you should choose the ones that interest you most and then move on. When you get tired a good way to rest is to see an IMAX movie at either the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum or the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. The IMAX movies are interesting and very popular, so you should plan ahead and buy your tickets a few hours in advance.

Monuments on the National Mall

The major monuments honor our presidents, founding fathers and war veterans. They are wonderful to visit in nice weather and the views from each of them are really special. The easiest way to visit the monuments is on foot, but to see all of them involves a lot of walking. The monuments are also spectacular to visit at night.

Restaurants and Dining Near the National Mall

Where are the best restaurants and places to dine on the National Mall in Washington, DC? The National Mall is the center of most visits to Washington, DC, but finding places to eat in this area of the city is not so obvious. See this guide to restaurants and dining near the National Mall.

Transportation and Parking Near the National Mall

The National Mall area is the busiest part of the city, especially during tourist season. The best way to get around the city is to use public transportation. Parking is very limited near the National Mall. See a map and directions to the National Mall. For suggestions of places to park, see a guide to Parking Near the National Mall.