Visiting Washington

Memorials & Monuments

National Mall and Memorial Parks

The National Mall & Memorial Parks in its entirety include the Mall, the public promenade extending from 3rd Street near the Capitol to 14th Street, including the:

• Jefferson Memorial
• Korean War Veterans Memorial
• Lincoln Memorial
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Washington Monument
• World War II Memorial
• Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

South bank of the Tidal Basin - At the Swan Boathouse you can rent a paddle boat to cruise on the Basin. The Smithsonian Metro stop comes out on the National Mall; from there it is about a half a mile to the Tidal Basin. Phone: (202) 426-6841

Korean War Veterans Memorial

The memorial is staffed from 8 a.m. to midnight every day except December 25 by park rangers who are available to answer questions and present interpretive themes. A bookstore in the nearby Lincoln Memorial sells informational items relating to both the memorial and the Korean War. The Korean War Veterans Memorial is part of the National Park System, one of more than 360 parks representing our nation's natural and cultural heritage. Address inquiries to: Superintendent, National Capital Parks-Central, 900 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC 20242.

Lincoln Memorial

West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street, NW. Telephone: (202) 426-6895. Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom OR the Smithsonian Metro stop (Mall exit), which comes out on the National Mall.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial

900 Ohio Drive, S.W., near the Jefferson Memorial and the Potomac River. There are park rangers available from 8 a.m. to midnight every day except Christmas Day. There are no fees to visit any of the monuments or memorials in the park. Telephone: (202) 426-6841 Information. Metro stop: Smithsonian Metro stop comes out on the National Mall.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial 

Henry Bacon Drive & Constitution Avenue, NW. Metro Stop: Smithsonian Metro stop comes out on the National Mall. Telephone: (202) 426-6841.

Washington Monument

On the Mall at 15th Street, SW. It is currently closed and not open for tours due to the severe earthquake that struck DC during the summer of 2011. Information: (202) 426-6841. Metro stop: Smithsonian

World War II Memorial

It is located on 17th Street, between Constitution and Independence Avenues, and is surrounded by the Washington Monument to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. The memorial is operated by the National Park Service and is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Telephone: Park Service at (202) 619-7222.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

It is located at the edge of the Tidal Basin, so walking from the Mall is the easiest. General visitor parking is available along Ohio Drive, SW between the Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Memorials. The public may visit the Memorial 24 hours a day. Park Rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily and to provide interpretive programs every hour on the hour from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Telephone: Park Service at (202) 619-7222. Metro stop: Smithsonian

Museums & Galleries

The Corcoran Gallery of Art Museum

17th Street and New York Avenue, NW - one block west and south of the White House. The main entrance is on 17th Street. Special needs access is at 1701 E Street, around the corner from the 17th Street entrance. Phone: (202) 639-1700 Metro Stop: Four blocks from the Farragut West station or Farragut North station. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; admission is $10 for adults, $8 for Seniors/Students with valid ID, Free for Active Military & Kids under 12

Ford's Theatre & Lincoln Museum

511 10th Street, NW - 10th Street Between E & F Streets. Telephone: (202) 426-6924. Metro Stop: the closest station to the theatre is Metro Center. Ticket prices depend upon availability and show's being played at the Theatre

International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum is located at 800 F Street, NW, between 9th and 8th Streets NW–one block from the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metrorail Station and the Verizon Center. Metro: Yellow or Green line. Tickets are as follows: Adults ages 12-64 pay $19.95; Seniors/Military/Law Enforcement pay $15.95; Youth ages 7-11 pay $14.95; Children 6 and under are free; Members get free admission. Telephone: 202.EYE.SPYU (202-393-7798).

The Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center is located on the bank of the Potomac River at 2700 F St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20566, at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue, NW, and Rock Creek Parkway. Metro: Blue line, Foggy Bottom; there is a free shuttle provided to/from. They offer free guided tours every day; Weekdays, 9am – 5pm and Weekends, 10am – 1pm. Telephone: (202) 416.8340.

National Building Museum

401 F Street, NW, between 4th and 5th streets. Wheelchair access at 4th and G streets. Metro Stop: Judiciary Square – via the Red line. Telephone: (202) 272-2448.

National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall

1145 17th & M Street. Exhibits of famous scientific expeditions. Phone: 800 NGS LINE (800 647 5463); 800 548 9797 (TDD). Ticket prices depend: adults are $11 to get in; Members/Military/ Seniors are $9; Children ages 5-12 are $7; School & Youth Groups 18 and under get free admission.

National Museum of American Jewish Military History

1811 R Street NW. Telephone: (202) 265-6280. Metro: Take Metro's Red Line to Dupont Circle. Leave through the Q Street exit. Walk one block north on Connecticut Avenue to R Street. Turn right and walk east two blocks to 18th Street.

Newseum Museum

The Newseum is located between the U.S. Capitol and the White House and just one block from the National Mall. Address is: 555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20001. Metro: Yellow or Green line to Archives/Penn Quarter; walk two blocks, toward the Capitol Building. Open daily, 9am – 5pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & News Years Day. Tickets costs: Adults, $22; Seniors/Military/Students, $18; Youth, $13; Children, free. Telephone: (202) 292-6100

Phillips Collection

1600 21st Street, N.W. The Phillips Collection is located in the Dupont Circle area, one-half block off of Massachusetts Avenue on 21st Street, between Q and R Streets. Offices and Visitor information: (202) 387-2151. Metro Stop: Dupont Circle Station; exit to Q street. At the top of the escalator, go left on Q street one block to 21st Street. The museum entrance is located halfway up 21st Street on the left.

Smithsonian Museums

Locations vary by Museum – it is recommended to use the link in order to find immediate directions to each Museum that you wish to visit. The Smithsonian Institution–the world's largest museum and research complex–includes 19 museums and galleries as well as the National Zoo. All are free to visit.

Textile Museum

2320 S Street, NW. Telephone: (202) 667-0441. Metro Stop: Take the red line to the Dupont Circle stop. Leave the station via the Q Street exit. Walk north on Connecticut Avenue. At the intersection of Connecticut Avenue, Florida Avenue and S Street cross Florida Avenue and go left. Take immediate right onto S Street. Continue walking up S Street 2 long blocks to The Textile Museum on the left.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The Museum is located just south of Independence Ave., SW. between 14th Street and Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th St.). There is an entrance also on 14th street, next to the Bureau of Printing & Engraving. Permanent exhibition is recommended for ages 11 and up. Daniel's Story is recommended for ages 8 and up. The visit will take from about 1 1/2 to 3 hours. ONLY the Permanent Exhibition requires a timed entry pass to begin the self-guided tour of the Museum's primary exhibition. Passes are FREE and are NOT required for the Museum's other exhibitions, memorials, resources and facilities. Metro Stop: Smithsonian on the blue or orange lines, exit at 12th and Independence Avenue. Telephone: (202) 488-0400.

United States Navy Memorial and Visitors Center

Located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 123, Washington, D.C, 20004-2608. The D.C. Metro's Green and Yellow Line stops at Archives-Navy Memorial, steps from our front door. There is a Motor Coach Drop on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between 7th and 9th Streets, in front of the U.S. Navy Memorial. The Memorial offers a Concert Hotline at (202) 737-2300 ext. 768 for updated schedules or cancellations due to weather.

More attractions

National Cathedral

Washington National Cathedral is located at 3101 Wisconsin Avenue in Northwest Washington, DC, at the intersection of Wisconsin and Massachusetts Avenues. Metro: Red line, Tenleytown/American University; exit on the west side of Wisconsin Ave, then take any 30-series bus. There is a $10 suggested donation to visit the Cathedral. Telephone: (202) 537-6200

Voice of America

Voice of America is located at 330 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20237 off of the Federal Center S.W. Metro stop on the Blue and Orange Lines. The Voice of America Studio Tour is a behind-the-scenes look at live broadcasting in radio, television, and the Internet in multiple languages used by the VOA. Tours are free to the public, guided with audio and video features, and last 45 minutes. Reservations are recommended but not required. Tours are offered at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: (202) 203-4990.