Plan diagram of the national mall in washington. National Mall in Washington DC

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.

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.

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.

California ground cuckoo is a North American bird from the cuckoo family (Cuculidae). It lives in deserts and semi-deserts in the south and southwest of the United States and northern Mexico.

Adult ground cuckoos reach a length of 51 to 61 cm, including the tail. They have a long, slightly downward curved beak. The head, crest, back and long tail are dark brown with light splashes. The neck and belly are also light. Very long legs and a long tail are adaptations to the desert running lifestyle.

The California ground cuckoo can reach speeds of up to 42 km/h. The special arrangement of her toes also helps her in this, since both outer toes are located back, and both inner toes are located forward. However, due to its short wings, it flies very poorly and can stay in the air for only a few seconds.

This bird spends most of its time on the ground and hunts snakes, lizards, insects, rodents and small birds. She is fast enough to kill even small vipers, which she grabs by the tail with her beak and hits her head on the ground like a whip. She swallows her prey whole. This bird got its English name Road Runner because it had the habit of running after mail coaches and grabbing small animals disturbed by their wheels.

Death Valley

Death Valley got its name from settlers who crossed it in 1849, seeking the shortest route to the California gold mines. The guidebook briefly reports that “some stayed there forever.” The dead were ill-prepared for crossing the desert, did not stock up on water and lost their orientation. Before dying, one of them cursed this place, calling it Death Valley. The few survivors withered mule meat on the wreckage of dismantled carts and reached their goal. They left behind “cheerful” geographical names: Death Valley, Funeral Ridge, Last Chance Ridge, Coffin Canyon, Dead Man's Passage, Hell's Gate, Rattlesnake Gorge, etc.

The Badwater Basin is the lowest part of Death Valley, located at 85.5 m below sea level. Once upon a time after the Ice Age, Death Valley was a huge lake of fresh water. The local hot and dry climate contributed to the inevitable evaporation of water. Annual short-term, but very intense rains wash tons of minerals from the surface of the mountains into the lowlands. The salts remaining after the evaporation of water settle at the bottom, reaching their highest concentration in the lowest place, in a reservoir with poor water. Here, rainwater lingers longer, forming small temporary lakes. Once upon a time, the first settlers were surprised that their dehydrated mules refused to drink water from these lakes, and marked “bad water” on the map. This is how this area got its name. In fact, the water in the pool (when it is available) is not poisonous, but it tastes very salty. It also has its own unique inhabitants that are not found in other places: algae, aquatic insects, larvae, and even a mollusk named after its place of residence, Badwater Snail.

Nearby is the lowest area in the Valley Badwater Basin. Salt behaves differently here. A uniform salt grid 4-6 cm high is formed on an absolutely flat white surface. The grid consists of figures gravitating towards a hexagon in shape, and covers the bottom of the Valley with a huge web, creating an absolutely unearthly landscape.

Sailing stones, also called sliding or crawling stones, are a geological phenomenon. The stones move slowly along the clayey bottom of the lake, as evidenced by the long tracks left behind them. The stones move independently without the help of living creatures, but no one has ever seen or recorded the movement on camera. Similar movements of stones have been noted in several other places, but in terms of the number and length of tracks, Racetrack Playa stands out from the rest.

The park's territory includes the Salina Valley, most of the Panamint Valley, as well as areas of several mountain systems. In the west rises Mount Telescope Peak, in the east – Mount Dante’s View, from the height of which a beautiful view of the entire valley opens.

coati- a mammal from the genus Noshu of the raccoon family. This mammal received its name for its elongated and very funny movable snout-nose.
Their head is narrow, their hair is short, their ears are round and small. There is a white rim on the edge of the inside of the ears. Nosukha is the owner of a very long tail, which is almost always in a vertical position. The animal uses its tail to balance itself when moving. The characteristic color of the tail is alternating light yellow, brown and black rings.

The color of the nose is varied: from orange to dark brown. The muzzle is usually a uniform black or brown color. There are light spots on the face, below and above the eyes. The neck is yellowish, the paws are black or dark brown.

the catch is elongated, the paws are strong with five fingers and non-retractable claws. The nose digs the ground with its claws, obtaining food. The hind legs are longer than the front legs. The length of the body from the nose to the tip of the tail is 80-130 cm, the length of the tail itself is 32-69 cm. The height at the withers is about 20-29 cm. They weigh about 3-5 kg. Males are almost twice as large as females.

Nosukhi live on average 7-8 years, but in captivity they can live up to 14 years. They live in tropical and subtropical forests of South America and the southern United States. Their favorite place is dense bushes, low-lying forests, and rocky terrain. Due to human intervention, lately nosos prefer forest edges and clearings.

They say that nosuhs used to be called simply badgers, but since real badgers moved to Mexico, the true homeland of nosuhs, this species received its own individual name.

All noses, including coatis, are predators! Coatis get food for themselves with their noses, diligently sniffling and groaning, they inflate the foliage in this way and look for termites, ants, scorpions, beetles, and larvae under it. Sometimes it can also feed on land crabs, frogs, lizards, and rodents. During the hunt, the coati clamps its prey with its paws and bites its head. In difficult times of hunger, the Nosukhi allow themselves vegetarian cuisine; they eat ripe fruits, which, as a rule, are always in abundance in the forest. Moreover, they do not make reserves, but return to the tree from time to time.

Males usually lead a solitary lifestyle and only during the mating season do they join family groups of females with young ones. During the mating season, which is usually from October to March, one male is accepted into the group of females and young ones. All mature females living in the group mate with this male, and soon after mating he leaves the group.

Nosukha gives birth to cubs once a year. Usually there are 2-6 cubs in a litter. Newborns weigh 100-180 grams and are completely dependent on the mother, who leaves the nest for a while to find food. The eyes open at approximately 11 days. The babies remain in the nest for several weeks, and then leave it with their mother and join the family group.
Lactation lasts up to four months. Young noses stay with their mother until she begins to prepare for the birth of the next offspring.

Red Lynx is the most common wild cat on the North American continent. In general appearance, this is a typical lynx, but it is almost twice as small as an ordinary lynx and is not so long-legged and wide-legged. Its body length is 60-80 cm, height at the withers is 30-35 cm, weight is 6-11 kg. You can recognize a red lynx by its white

You can meet the red lynx in dense subtropical forests or in desert areas among prickly cacti, on high mountain slopes or in swampy lowlands. The presence of humans does not prevent it from appearing on the outskirts of villages or small towns. This predator chooses areas where it can feast on small rodents, nimble squirrels or timid rabbits and even prickly porcupines.

Vision and hearing are well developed. Hunts on the ground, sneaking up on prey. The lynx holds its prey with its sharp claws and kills it with a bite to the base of the skull. In one sitting, an adult animal eats up to 1.4 kg of meat. He hides the remaining surplus and returns to it the next day.For rest, the red lynx chooses a new place every day, without lingering in the old one. This could be a crack in the rocks, a cave, a hollow log, a space under a fallen tree, etc. On the ground or snow, the red lynx takes a step approximately 25 - 35 cm long; The size of an individual footprint is approximately 4.5 x 4.5 cm. When walking, they place their hind paws exactly in the tracks left by their front paws. Thanks to this, they never make very loud noise from the crackling of dry twigs under their feet. Soft pillows on their legs help them calmly sneak up to the animal at close range. Bobcats are good tree climbers and can also swim across a small body of water, but they only do this on rare occasions.

The red lynx is a territorial animal. The lynx marks the boundaries of the site and its paths with urine and feces. In addition, she leaves marks of her claws on trees. The male learns that the female is ready to mate by the smell of her urine. A mother with cubs is very aggressive towards any animal or person that threatens her kittens.

In the wild, males and females like to be alone, meeting only during the breeding season. The only time when individuals of different sexes look for meetings is during the mating season, which occurs at the end of winter - the beginning of spring. The male mates with all the females that are in the same area with him. The female's pregnancy lasts only 52 days. Cubs are born in the spring, blind and helpless. At this time, the female tolerates the male only not far from the den. After about a week, the babies' eyes open slightly, but for another eight weeks they remain with their mother and are fed with her milk. The mother licks their fur and warms them with her body. The female red lynx is a very caring mother. In case of danger, she moves the kittens to another shelter.

A male bobcat often occupies an area of ​​100 km2, and border areas may be shared by several males. The female's area is half the size. Within the territory of one male, 2-3 females usually live. A male red lynx, whose territory is often home to three females and cubs, must provide food for 12 kittens.

Among the almost two and a half thousand species of higher plants found in the flora of the Sonoran Desert, the most widely represented are species from the family of Compositae, legumes, cereals, buckwheat, euphorbia, cactus and borage. A number of communities characteristic of the main habitats make up the vegetation of the Sonoran Desert.

The extensive, slightly sloping alluvial fans support vegetation, the main components of which are clumps of creosote bush and ragweed. They also include several types of prickly pear, quinoa, acacia, fuqueria, or ocotillo.

On the alluvial plains below the fans, the vegetation cover mainly consists of sparse forest of mesquite trees. Their roots, penetrating into the depths, reach groundwater, and roots located in the surface layer of soil, within a radius of up to twenty meters from the trunk, can intercept precipitation. A mature mesquite tree reaches a height of eighteen meters and can be more than a meter wide. In our time, only the pitiful remnants of the once majestic mesquite forests remain, long cut down for fuel. The mesquite forest is very similar to the black saxaul thickets in the Karakum Desert. The forest composition, in addition to mesquite, includes clematis and acacia.

Near the water, along the banks of rivers, near the water, there are poplars, with ash and Mexican elder mixed in with them. Plants such as acacia, creosote bush and celtis grow in the beds of arroyos, drying up temporary streams, as well as in the adjacent plains. In the Gran Desierto Desert, near the Gulf of California coast, ragweed and creosote bush dominate the sandy plains, while ephedra and tobosa, ragweed, grow on the sand dunes.

In the Arizona Highlands, northwest of the Sonoran Desert, the vegetation is especially colorful and varied. The denser vegetation cover and diversity of vegetation is due to more precipitation here than in other areas of Sonora, as well as the ruggedness of the terrain, a combination of steep slopes of different exposures and hills. A peculiar cactus forest, in which the main place is occupied by the giant columnar saguaro cactus, with a low-growing encelia shrub located between the cacti, is formed on gravelly soils with a large amount of fine earth. Also among the vegetation there are large barrel-shaped ferocactus, ocotillo, paloverde, several types of prickly pear, acacia, celtis, creosote bush, as well as mesquite tree, in the floodplains.

The trees and shrubs of the Sonoran Desert that attract attention with their unique appearance include ivory tree, ironwood and idria, or buium, growing only in two areas of the Sonoran Desert, located in Mexico, which is part of the region of Latin America.

The Vizcaino region is located in the central third of the California Peninsula. There is little precipitation, but the air is cool, as humid sea breezes often bring fogs, weakening the aridity of the climate. Rain falls mainly in winter and averages less than 125 mm. Here in the flora there are some very unusual plants, bizarre landscapes are characteristic: fields of white granite boulders, cliffs of black lava, etc. Interesting plants are bujamas, an ivory tree, a 30 m high cordon, a throttle ficus growing on the rocks and a blue palm. In contrast to the main Vizcaino Desert, the Vizcaino Coastal Plain is a flat, cool, foggy desert with 0.3 m tall shrubs and fields of annuals.

Riverine communities are usually isolated ribbons or islands of deciduous forest along temporary streams. There are very few permanent or dry watercourses (the largest is the Colorado River), but there are many where water appears only a couple of days or even a few hours a year. Dry beds, or "washes", of arroyos - "arroyos" - are places where many trees and shrubs are concentrated. Xerophilic open forests along dry riverbeds are highly variable. Along some ephemeral streams, almost pure mesquite forest occurs, others may be dominated by blue paloverde or ironwood, or develop a mixed forest. Characteristic is the so-called "desert willow", which is actually a catalpa.

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 is dedicated to the memory of 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.