National Mall

The National Mall is a beautiful landscaped park near the downtown area of Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States. It is a popular place for visitors and includes many important monuments, museums, and open spaces. People come from all over the world to see places like the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial, as well as many museums managed by the Smithsonian Institution.

The park was designed by Pierre L'Enfant to be a democratic and open space for everyone, unlike the palace gardens of other countries. It stretches from the United States Capitol to the west toward the Washington Monument and includes many memorials and monuments that honor important people and events in American history. The National Mall welcomes many visitors each year and is cared for by the National Park Service.

Landmarks, museums, and other features

The National Mall has many important places, including landmarks, museums, and special features. Some notable spots are the Joseph Henry statue from 1883 and the Andrew Jackson Downing Urn from 1856. There is also the Smithsonian Carousel. It was taken away for repairs in November 2023 but returned in April 2026 for the United States' 250th anniversary celebration.

Most of the museums on the National Mall belong to the Smithsonian Institution, except for the National Gallery of Art. The Smithsonian Gardens has beautiful gardens and landscapes near the museums. East and west of the main Mall area, you can find more interesting places such as Constitution Gardens, the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the George Mason Memorial.

Boundaries and dimensions

The National Mall is a large park in Washington, D.C. It stretches about 1.9 miles (3.0 km) from the Capitol steps to the Lincoln Memorial. At some points, it is about 1,586 feet (483 m) wide, but the open space in the middle is narrower, about 656 feet (200 m) wide.

The Mall is bordered by important streets. It sits between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues on the north, 1st Street NW on the east, Independence and Maryland Avenues on the south, and 14th Street NW on the west. Some parts are managed by different groups, like the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The area includes many important monuments and open spaces, making it a central part of the city’s design.

Main articles: Geography of Washington, D.C., L'Enfant Plan

Purposes

The National Mall is a special park in Washington, D.C. It is a grand and respectful place for important buildings, museums, and memorials. It was planned by two famous designs called the L'Enfant plan and the McMillan plan.

The park is kept beautiful for people to enjoy. There are places to walk and see important statues and monuments. It is also used for big national events and gatherings where people can speak and come together peacefully. The park stays free from commercial signs but can still thank sponsors.

History

See also: History of Washington, D.C.

L'Enfant City Plan

In 1791, Pierre (Peter) Charles L'Enfant made a plan for Washington, D.C. The plan included a big road about 1 mile long and 400 feet wide. This road would go between the United States Capitol and a place for a statue of George Washington. The area was called "the Mall" after a famous walkway in London.

The Washington City Canal was built near an old stream called Tiber Creek and led to the Potomac River. Over time, parts of the canal were covered up. The oldest building on the Mall today is the Smithsonian Institution Building, also called "The Castle." It was built between 1847 and 1855.

Downing Plan: Mid-19th century

In the 1850s, an architect named Andrew Jackson Downing made a plan for how the Mall should look. He split the area into parts like the Public Grounds and the Agricultural Grounds. During the American Civil War, some buildings were used as hospitals.

After the war, the Department of Agriculture grew crops and gardens on the Mall. The Center Market was a busy place where people bought things, and later it became the site of the National Archives.

McMillan Plan: Early 20th century

In 1902, a group called the McMillan Commission suggested a new design for the Mall. The plan wanted open spaces with lines of trees and paths. The idea was to build places for culture along the edges of the Mall.

Temporary war buildings

During World Wars I and II, the government put up many temporary buildings on the Mall. After the wars, most of these buildings were taken down, and the area went back to its planned design.

Later history

In the 1930s, American elm trees were planted on the Mall. But a sickness called Dutch Elm Disease hurt many of these trees. People worked to save and replace them.

The National Mall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. In 2016, the area included in this historic district was made bigger to cover more places around the Mall.

Demolished or moved structures

The National Mall has changed a lot over the years. Some old buildings and structures were removed to make space for new ones. For example, the Washington City Canal was covered to build streets like Constitution Avenue. The old Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station closed when a new train station opened. Other buildings such as the United States Department of Agriculture Building and the Army Medical Museum and Library were torn down to make room for new museums and gardens.

Some structures were moved instead of being torn down. Uncle Beazley, a popular statue, was relocated to the National Zoo in 1994. These changes helped shape the National Mall into the beautiful park it is today, filled with important museums and memorials.

Main articles: Washington City Canal, Constitution Avenue, Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station, Washington Union Station, United States Department of Agriculture Building, Center Market, National Archives Building, Armory Square Hospital, National Air and Space Museum, Army Medical Museum and Library, Hirshhorn Museum, Main Navy and Munitions Buildings, Constitution Gardens, Uncle Beazley, National Zoo

Usage

The National Mall is a beautiful park in Washington, D.C. Many visitors come here to explore.

The wide open spaces are great for people to gather for important events. One famous example was the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The Mall has also been used for presidential inaugurations, when thousands of people come to watch the new president take office.

The National Mall is also a fun place for everyday activities. People enjoy jogging, having picnics, and relaxing there. The Mall has a fun carousel that runs during certain seasons, and it hosts many special events each year. These include a kite festival in the spring, Earth Day celebrations, concerts by military bands, and a big fireworks show on Independence Day. The Mall is a lively and important part of the nation’s capital.

Main article: List of rallies and protest marches in Washington, D.C.

Main articles: United States presidential inauguration

Improvements and refurbishment

From 2006 to 2010, plans were made to improve the National Mall. The plans included building new places for events, updating old buildings, and making better spaces for visitors. The National Park Service worked with many people to make sure these changes would help the environment and the park.

Work on these plans started after 2010. One big project was fixing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The old pool got a new water system and looks better now. Other projects included fixing the grass and adding new plants. These changes help keep the National Mall beautiful for everyone to enjoy.

Transportation

See also: Transportation in Washington, D.C.

The National Mall is easy to reach using public transportation. The Washington Metro has several stations nearby, including the Smithsonian station. Other stations like Federal Triangle, Archives, and Union Station are also close.

Bicycles are welcome on the National Mall, with special parking spots near major memorials. You can rent a bike from March to October at the Thompson Boat Center. The Mall is part of the East Coast Greenway that stretches from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida.

Riding electric scooters or Segways is only allowed on roads, not sidewalks, unless you have a special need. Some companies rent scooters in Washington, D.C. You can also take pedicabs, which are human-powered carriages, for tours of the Mall. Parking for cars is limited, but there are some spots along Ohio Drive SW, especially for buses and people with special parking needs. In 2017, parking meters were added in some areas to manage parking better.

Weather and climate

On July 16, 2016, a big event called Together 2016 had thousands of people on the National Mall. It got too hot, so the event ended early at 4 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. Many people needed help because of the heat.

On July 1, 2021, a small tornado formed in Arlington County, Virginia. It crossed the Potomac River near the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and moved along the National Mall. The tornado had winds up to 90 mph and knocked down some temporary fencing for a celebration. The tornado disappeared near 16th Street NW and Constitution Avenue.

In popular culture

The National Mall is often used in movies, TV shows, and video games. You can see it in famous films like Forrest Gump, National Treasure, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Wonder Woman 1984. The comedy Wedding Crashers and the TV series House of Cards also have scenes there.

In the video game Fallout 3, the Mall appears in some scenes. News channels sometimes film from the Mall when they report from Washington, D.C.

Other attractions nearby

See also: Category:Tourist attractions in Washington, D.C.

The National Mall is close to many interesting places. You can walk to see famous buildings, memorials, and museums.

To the east of the Capitol, visit the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Library of Congress, and the United States Supreme Court Building.

North and northeast of the Mall, you can see the Holodomor Genocide Memorial, the Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II, the National Postal Museum, and Washington Union Station.

Further north, there is Ford's Theatre, the National Archives, the National Building Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Old Post Office Building and Clock Tower.

To the northwest, you can find the Albert Einstein Memorial, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the White House.

West of the Mall, see the Arlington Memorial Bridge and the Marine Corps War Memorial.

Southwest, visit the Arlington National Cemetery, the Jefferson Memorial, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Finally, south of the Mall, there is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial and the Museum of the Bible.