National Mall. National Mall

The National Mall is the center of the American capital, which houses a large number of significant attractions of the city. The alley is a territory in the form of a three-kilometer wide strip, the total area of ​​which is close to one hundred and twenty-five hectares.

It is curious that it ranks third in popularity, and therefore attendance, in the country, second only to Times Square and Las Vegas Street.

The history of the emergence of Washington's National Mall is interesting. The French architect Pierre Charles Lanfant, who designed the street blocks of the capital of the United States, was the developer of the plan for its world famous center.

He was initially given a goal: to plan it in such a way that Washington would be as similar as possible to Paris. However, this plan was not implemented, and the National Mall served for a long time as an ordinary market, a place for exhibitions of exotic animals.

However, the opening of the main boulevard of the National Mall did take place in 1965. An interesting feature of this place is that many of the memorials erected here are not places of mourning for fallen soldiers. This includes a memorial to veterans of the Vietnam and World War II, and monuments to Einstein, Martin Luther King and Roosevelt. Local residents gather here to play soccer, football, or simply have fun here. Picnics are organized on the neat green, trimmed lawns near numerous ponds; whole families spend time here, especially on weekends.

Here you can also visit the museum of American history, news, the Holocaust, Indians, Aerospace, and the Smithsonian Institution. And visitors generally come to an indescribable delight from the botanical garden and the National Gallery of Art.

The National Mall is very significant for Americans - presidential inauguration ceremonies take place here, political protest marches and rallies take place, world stars have performed at this place, even the Pope once celebrated Mass.

This is a description of the landmark National Mall in Washington, Washington DC (United States of America). As well as photos, reviews and a map of the surrounding area. Find out the history, coordinates, where it is and how to get there. Check out other places on our interactive map for more detailed information. Get to know the world better.

The central point of the US capital, in which the most significant sights of the city and its historical monuments are concentrated. The alley is a strip about three kilometers long, with a total area of ​​125 hectares. This place is the third most visited in the country, second only to Las Vegas Street and Times Square. About 20 million tourists from all over the world come here every year. If you look at the National Mall from above, you will see a cross, in the very center of which stands the Washington Monument, on the east side - the Capitol, on the north - the White House, in the western part - the Lincoln Memorial and in the south - the Jefferson Memorial. Between these buildings there are museums, parks, and other significant objects.

The history of the emergence of the National Mall in Washington is remarkable. To create it, an architect from France, Pierre Charles Lanfant, who was involved in designing the blocks and streets of the capital of the United States, was invited. Initially, the architect was given the task of planning the central part of Washington in such a way as to make it as similar as possible to Paris. This plan was not destined to come true and the National Mall was used by city residents for a long time as a regular market and a place for an exhibition of exotic animals.

The main boulevard of the National Mall opened in 1965. An interesting feature of this place is that the memorials, of which there are many on the alley, are not used by Americans as places to mourn fallen soldiers. Quite the opposite - local residents gather there to play football, soccer, and just have fun. Picnics with friends are held on the picturesque green lawns; whole families come here - the National Mall is especially crowded on weekends.

The central part of the National Mall is occupied by green lawns and numerous ponds, and luxurious American elms are planted on its sides. There are numerous museums and monuments of national significance located on or nearby the National Mall. These include memorials to Vietnam and World War II veterans, memorials to Lincoln, Einstein, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King. It is also home to the Smithsonian Institution, American History Museum, Holocaust Museum, News Museum, Aerospace Museum, American Indian Museum, Natural History Museum, Botanical Garden, and National Gallery of Art.

The National Mall is of great importance for Americans - people gather here during the presidential inauguration ceremony, it is at this place that political rallies and protest marches take place, many world stars have performed here at various times, and the Pope himself has celebrated Mass here.

Stretching more than 3 km in length from the Capitol in the east to the Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac River in the west, the tree-lined lawn called the National Mall is Washington's main tourist attraction. Memorials and monuments located here honor some of the United States' most famous historical figures, and numerous museums provide insight into world art, history, and culture. The mall includes some of the most famous landmarks of the US capital: the Washington Monument, the Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jefferson memorials, the Smithsonian Institution museums, and the National Gallery of Art. It serves as the center of the city's public life, a popular venue for rallies and protests, in which from several tens to hundreds of thousands of people take part. The National Mall, along with other Washington DC attractions, has made the US capital one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and the world, welcoming approximately 24 million visitors annually.

In 1790, George Washington ordered the French-born engineer and architect Pierre Charles Lenfant to develop a master plan for the future capital. The famous French architect planned to develop a “grand alley” approximately 1.6 km long and 120 m wide as the cultural center of the city. The modern National Mall is located on the site of this planned mall, which was never created.

Although today it is impossible to imagine Washington without the National Mall, construction plans were implemented only at the beginning of the twentieth century. A wide alley connected the three most symbolic monuments: the Capitol in the east; a monument to the founder of the republic, George Washington, in the center; and a monument to Abraham Lincoln, who preserved the unity of the country, in the west.

On October 15, 1966, the National Mall was included in the list of National Historic Places of the United States. The Mall is not just a tribute to American history, it is the place where American history was born.

National Mall Attractions

Museums

In addition to symbols of political power, memorials and monuments, the largest area of ​​the National Mall is occupied by the Smithsonian Institution. Over the past 100 years, the Smithsonian Institution has created a network of free public museums unprecedented in size and scope in human history. Ten of the Smithsonian's 19 museums are located on the National Mall. They are all free to visit and open every day except Christmas Day.

The mall attracts many people with the opportunity to visit museums. Even one month is not enough time to truly explore all of the Smithsonian's museum collections, so choose according to your interests. The most rational way is to visit museums during the day, and monuments and memorials in the evening and at night. Museums usually close at 5 pm, after which you can have dinner and then take a walk and visit the rest of the attractions of the National Mall. This is usually what most tourists do in the summer, so you won't be alone even after midnight.

National Gallery of Art

National Gallery of Art, opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 17:00, Sunday: 11:00 - 18:00. The National Gallery of Art consists of the neoclassical West Building (pictured), the modern East Building (connected by an underground passage), and the 25,000 m2 Sculpture Garden. It houses one of the finest art collections in the world. The collection of paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculptures, medals and decorative arts traces the development of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present day, including the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in America, as well as the largest collection of sculptural mobiles by Alexander Calder.

National Museum of Natural History

National Museum of Natural History, opening hours 10:30 - 17:30, often 10:00 -19:30 during peak season. The National Museum of Natural History is the most visited of all the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall (hosted 7 in 2009. 4 million visitors). A large group of scientists studying the natural history of our planet works here. The museum's collection includes over 500 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, archaeological and cultural artifacts.

The main attraction is the National Collection of Gemstones and Minerals, one of the largest collections of its kind in the world. It includes famous examples of gemstones and minerals, including the world-famous Hope Diamond and the Star of Asia sapphire, one of the largest sapphires in the world. The collection currently includes more than 15,000 gemstones, 350,000 minerals and 300,000 ore samples. The collection of approximately 35,000 meteorites is considered one of the most complete collections of its kind in the world.

The National Museum of Natural History charts the evolution of life on Earth from the beginning to the present day. Particularly popular is the Paleobiology Hall, where giant dinosaur fossils are on display.

National Museum of American History

National Museum of American History, opening hours 10:00 - 17:30, in the summer 10:00 - 18:30. One of the most educational museums, covering the social, political, cultural, scientific and military history of the United States. The main attraction is the Vault with a huge collection of iconic American items, ranging from the original text of the national anthem of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln's top hat, to a Kermit the Frog doll and Dorothy Gale's red slippers (actress who starred in the film The Wizard of Oz).

National Museum of the American Indian

National Museum of the American Indian, opening hours 10:00 - 17:30. The most modern (2004) of all the Smithsonian museums displays the cultural traditions of the indigenous peoples of North, Central and South America. The museum focuses more on 20th century history and modern culture than the pre-Columbian and colonial era. Perhaps the most important attraction is the museum building, designed by the famous Canadian architect Cardinal Douglas. The facade is covered with limestone, reminiscent of the rocks of the American Southwest, there are practically no sharp corners, and the walls of the building are curved.

National Air and Space Museum

The second most visited museum on the National Mall is the National Air and Space Museum, which contains the world's largest collection of old aircraft and spacecraft. As of June 2007, the museum's exhibits included 61 aircraft, 51 large spacecraft, and more than 2,000 small exhibits. The museum houses the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis (made the first non-stop flight from Paris to New York, 1927), the crew module of the Apollo 11 spacecraft (carried astronauts to the surface of the Moon, pictured above), The Enola Gay bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Park

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Park, opening hours: 10:00 - 17:30; Sculpture Park - 07:30 until sunset. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Park was originally conceived as a contemporary art museum, and its collection focuses primarily on art created within the last 50 years. The museum houses collections of famous artists: Pabla Picasso, Henri Matisse, Mary Cassata, Thomas Eakins, Henry Moore, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Franz Klein, Hans Hoffmann, Louis Morris, Kenneth Nolan, John Chamberlain, David Smith, Francis Bacon, Willem de Kooning, Milton Avery, Archil Gorky, Edward Hopper, Larry Rivers and others. A visit to the Sculpture Park will be a real pleasure for children.

Museum of Arts and Industry

The beautiful building became the second oldest museum on the territory of the National Pier (1881). The building was built to provide the Smithsonian with a place to publicly display its growing collection. In 1971, the museum building was included in the list of National Historic Monuments of the United States. The Museum of Arts and Industry is currently closed for renovation.

Smithsonian Castle

Smithsonian Castle, opening hours 08:30 - 17:30. This red brick Castle became the first premises of the Smithsonian Institution. The main offices of the Smithsonian Institution, an information center are located in the Castle, and exhibitions are periodically organized here. In 1965, the Castle was included in the list of National Historic Monuments of the United States.

National Museum of African Art

National Museum of African Art, opening hours 10:00 - 17:30. Located underground on the grounds of the National Mall, the museum specializes in African art and culture. Established as a private museum in 1964, it officially became part of the Smithsonian Institution in August 1979. The exhibits in the museum (more than 7,000) are represented from all parts of Africa, but most of them originate from the sub-Saharan region. Most of the exhibits include sculpture, masks, furniture, wooden musical instruments, talismans and amulets. The museum has a family atmosphere with daily activities and programs for children.

Freer Art Gallery and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Freer Art Gallery and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, hours 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The Freer Art Gallery is adjacent to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, together forming the Smithsonian Institution's National Asian Art Museums. Both galleries display art from East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Islamic world, the Ancient Near East, Ancient Egypt, and a significant collection of late 19th-century American art. The main exhibition spaces of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery are located underground.

Washington Monument

The monument to the first US President George Washington has become a symbol of pride, gratitude and patriotism of the American people. No single person in American history played such an important role as the first president, and no building in Washington to this day exceeds the height of this monument. Construction of the obelisk began in 1848 and was completed in 1884, almost 30 years after the death of the architect. The obelisk was built from marble, granite and gneiss (a type of rock), materials brought from every state in America. A break in construction occurred due to the American Civil War. The difference in the color of the marble is visible at about 46 m, indicating a place where construction was suspended for several years. Upon completion, it became the tallest structure in the world, exceeding the height of Cologne Cathedral. The obelisk held the title of the tallest structure in the world until 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris, and today retains the title of the world's tallest structure made of stone.
Tickets can be purchased for free near the obelisk or ordered in advance online at the National Park Service Reservation Center. Rising up the elevator, through 8 small windows you will see the panorama of the National Mall and the surrounding area.

National Memorial to the Heroes of World War II

World War II was the major event of the 20th century, with sixteen million American soldiers serving in the military and 400,000 of them dying. The memorial honors Americans who served in the armed forces during World War II. The architect tried to convey the tragedy and horrors of war in granite with 56 columns and two arches around the square and fountain. The memorial is located on the grounds of the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Opened by President George W. Bush on May 29, 2004. Every year, the memorial is visited by more than 4 million people.

District of Columbia War Memorial

The only memorial on the National Mall is dedicated to DC's World War I heroes. The small Doric-style temple building serves as a tribute to the 26,000 Washingtonians who fought in World War I. At the foot of the memorial are engraved the names of 499 fallen soldiers.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Perhaps the most impressive of all the National Mall memorials is dedicated to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who fought and died (or went missing) during the Vietnam War. The memorial currently consists of three distinct parts: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall (the most famous part of the memorial, pictured), the Three Soldiers sculpture, and the Vietnam Women's Memorial.

The names of the 58,195 American soldiers killed in Vietnam and Southeast Asia are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. In 2007, the Memorial took tenth place in the “List of the most popular architectural objects in the United States” according to the influential American Institute of Architects. It receives approximately 3 million visitors every year.

Korean War Veterans Memorial

The Korean War Veterans Memorial commemorates soldiers who fought during the Korean War (1950 – 1953). During one of the largest wars of the 20th century, hundreds of thousands of people died on both sides.

In the center of the composition are 19 statues of American soldiers just over two meters high.
The soldiers' uniforms represent several branches of the American Army. They are dressed in full combat gear and scattered among juniper bushes surrounded by trees symbolizing Korea's rugged terrain. The 50-meter-long black granite wall is engraved with images of soldiers and military equipment that took part in the fighting.

Lincoln Memorial

Most of the National Mall memorials in Washington are impressive, but none are quite as impressive as the Abraham Lincoln Memorial. The Memorial building features a huge sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln with inscriptions of the president's most famous speeches.

On October 15, 1966, the Lincoln Memorial was designated a National Historic Site in the United States. Open to the public 24 hours a day. In 2007, it took seventh position on the “List of the Most Popular Architectural Objects in the United States” according to the American Institute of Architects.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is not a museum, but a government agency of the U.S. Treasury Department where paper money is printed for the Federal Reserve System. Those interested can take advantage of free excursions on weekdays (but you must get tickets for them). They don't give out free dollars here, but it's worth coming here to see the millions of dollars being printed literally before your eyes.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) also produces Treasury securities for the United States government, many different types of certificates, forms, and special documents for U.S. government agencies, but its main product is paper money for the Federal Reserve System. Does not produce coins here; all coins are minted at the United States Mint.

Martin Luther King Monument

The most modern of all existing monuments on the National Mall (2011) is dedicated to the fallen leader of the movement for black civil rights in America. Sculptors worked on the monument for two decades, depicting King with the text of his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream.” Martin Luther King advocated for equality regardless of race and led the black civil rights movement. Under pressure from this movement, authorities were forced to pass the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, which established equal voting rights for African Americans and prohibited segregation in public places.

On August 22, 2011, the Memorial was opened by US President Barack Obama. Although this is not the first monument to African Americans in Washington, Martin Luther King is the first black person to be so honored on the grounds of the National Mall (and the fourth non-president).

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

The memorial is dedicated to President Roosevelt and the era personified by his name. Overflowing with sculpture and numerous man-made waterfalls (beautifully illuminated at night), the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is one of the National Mall's most tranquil areas to stroll and relax. It is divided into four sections, each focusing on a different period of Roosevelt's administration.

The memorial was dedicated by President Bill Clinton on May 2, 1997. The sculptures depicted the 32nd President of the United States along with his dog Fala. Other sculptures at the Memorial show scenes of the Great Depression, such as listening to Roosevelt's evening radio addresses to the nation or unemployed people waiting in line for a free meal. It also features a bronze statue of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, the only memorial depicting a presidential spouse.

Given Roosevelt's disability, designers designed the memorial to be accessible to people with a variety of physical disabilities.

Jefferson Memorial

Thomas Jefferson played an invaluable role as one of the Founding Fathers of the Republic, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third President of the United States. Construction of the Memorial in neoclassical style was completed in 1943. In keeping with his role in American history, a huge bronze statue of him was erected in 1947. Quotes from Jefferson's letters, including the Declaration of Independence, are reproduced on the walls. In 2007, the Memorial was listed in fourth place on the American Institute of Architects' list of the most popular architectural sites in the United States.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, open 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily. The Memorial Museum is dedicated to the study and interpretation of the history of the Holocaust and serves as a memorial to the millions of people who died during the Holocaust. This is the saddest place for visitors to the National Mall. Its exhibition is dedicated to what exactly happened during the Holocaust, its senseless inhumanity and the incredible suffering caused. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's collection contains more than 12,750 artifacts, 49 million pages of archival documents, 80,000 historical photographs, 1,000 hours of archival film, and 9,000 oral eyewitness accounts. Since its opening on April 22, 1993, the Museum has welcomed nearly 30 million visitors, 91 heads of state and more than 3,500 foreign officials from more than 130 countries.
Entrance to the memorial museum is free, but you must purchase a ticket. During the tourist influx season (March-August), the number of tickets is limited - first come first gets it.

The impressive architecture and beauty of the site make the National Mall a unique place to honor American history.
The influential American Institute of Architects has compiled a ranking of the best buildings in America, according to which six of the best buildings in the top ten are located in Washington: the White House, the National Cathedral of Washington, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The National Mall is an integral part of Washington, D.C., which is a stretch of land in the historic center of the city. On both sides of the alley there are important architectural objects, including museums, various monuments, and memorials. The National Mall runs from east to west, starting at the US Capitol and ending at the Lincoln Memorial.

The total area of ​​the National Alley is approximately 125 hectares, and its length is at least 3 km. This area is very famous and popular among tourists. Every year it is visited by about 20 million travelers from all over the world. In terms of the number of visitors, the alley can be ranked 3rd among all famous attractions in the United States.

The foundation for the National Mall in the USA was laid by the architect from France Pierre Charles Lanfant, who was invited to this country to develop projects for streets and blocks. The architect's task was to give the streets of Washington the design of Parisian streets. The plan was not entirely successfully implemented, and the famous alley was initially used as a market square, as well as a place for exhibitions of various types of exotic domestic animals.

The future fate of the National Mall in the USA was decided in 1901 at a special Congress, whose representatives were specialists led by Senator James MacMillan. It was at that time that a project was presented, according to which a planting program for the area would be implemented in the future, and various national facilities, including architectural monuments, would be built.

The modern Mall is a wonderful urban area with many manicured lawns and ponds, flanked by numerous American elms. The alley houses a whole collection of various nationally important monuments and museums, as well as a magnificent botanical garden, galleries, institutes and other important objects. Here are memorials of such significant people in US history as Lincoln, Einstein, Roosevelt and many others.

The National Mall of the USA plays a vital role in the life not only of Washington, but of our huge country. Usually people gather in this place during the next inauguration of the President of the country. The alley often hosts various protest rallies. On the territory of the Mall you can meet world stars who often give concerts here.

Traditionally, a book festival is held on the National Mall; usually, fireworks are launched in this place in honor of the country's Independence, and all kinds of concerts are also given here, including military, symphony, jazz and many others.

If you don't know where to start exploring the sights of Washington, then go to the National Mall - you won't go wrong.

Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

National Mall(English) National Mall listen)) - a complex of various monuments and museums in the historical center of Washington. The entire space of the National Mall is divided into zones in which the main monuments are located. When viewed from the air, the alley presents a cross, in the center of which is the Washington Monument, in the north - the White House, in the east - the Capitol, in the south - the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, in the west - the Abraham Lincoln Memorial. Between these monuments are parks, museums, and the United States Botanical Garden. The museum complex is the most famous museum complex in the United States. The complex includes the Holocaust Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Aerospace Museum (the largest museum in terms of the number of exhibits from the Cold War and the Space Race), the American Indian Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Newseum. Newseum) - museum of journalism and news.

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Coordinates: 38°53′24″ n. w. 77°01′25″ W d. /  38.89000° N. w. 77.02361° W d. / 38.89000; -77.02361(G) (I)

Excerpt describing the National Mall

Pierre got out of the carriage and, past the working militia, ascended the mound from which, as the doctor told him, the battlefield could be seen.
It was about eleven o'clock in the morning. The sun stood somewhat to the left and behind Pierre and brightly illuminated through the clean, rare air the huge panorama that opened up before him like an amphitheater across the rising terrain.
Up and to the left along this amphitheater, cutting it, wound the great Smolensk road, passing through a village with a white church, which lay five hundred steps in front of the mound and below it (this was Borodino). The road crossed under the village across a bridge and, through ups and downs, wound higher and higher to the village of Valuev, visible six miles away (Napoleon was now standing there). Beyond Valuev, the road disappeared into a yellowing forest on the horizon. In this birch and spruce forest, to the right of the direction of the road, the distant cross and bell tower of the Kolotsk Monastery glittered in the sun. All along this blue distance, to the right and left of the forest and the road, in different places one could see smoking fires and indefinite masses of our and enemy’s troops. To the right, along the flow of the Kolocha and Moskva rivers, the area was gorged and mountainous. Between their gorges the villages of Bezzubovo and Zakharyino could be seen in the distance. To the left, the terrain was more level, there were fields with grain, and one smoking, burnt village could be seen - Semenovskaya.