National Mall

The National Mall, in Washington

The National Mall is the great historic and tourist esplanade of Washington, which links the Capitol to the great memorials. The Washington audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this monumental heart of the capital, lined with museums and monuments symbols of the American nation.

The monumental heart of the capital

The National Mall is the most historic and most tourist part of Washington, the symbolic heart of the capital and of the American nation. This immense green esplanade, several kilometres long, stretches from east to west, from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, passing by the obelisk of the Washington Monument that marks its centre. Conceived from the creation of the town as a great monumental axis, it aligns in its perspective the most important institutions and monuments of the country. All around deploy the great museums of the Smithsonian, free and world-famous, as well as the memorials dedicated to the presidents and to the great events of American history. The Mall is also a vast public space, place of promenade, leisure and gathering: it is here that the great events of national life unfold, from ceremonies to historic demonstrations, like the great speeches for civil rights. To explore the Mall is to cross the history and the symbols of the United States. A monumental esplanade and a heart of the nation, the National Mall is a must-see stop of the discovery of Washington.

What to see

Here you explore the immense green esplanade that stretches from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, passing by the obelisk of the Washington Monument, symbolic heart of the nation conceived as a great monumental axis; all around deploy the great free museums of the Smithsonian and the memorials, and the Mall hosts the great events of national life. The National Mall is the monumental heart of Washington. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The National Mall extends from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, in the heart of Washington, reachable on foot and by public transport. It is a vast open-air public space, freely accessible, lined with museums and memorials. It is best to plan time and good shoes to explore it, and to check the hours of the museums and monuments.

What is the National Mall in Washington?

The great historic and symbolic esplanade of Washington, which stretches over several kilometres from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, passing by the obelisk of the Washington Monument; conceived as a great monumental axis, it is lined with the great free museums of the Smithsonian and the memorials, and hosts the great events of national life.

Where is the National Mall in Washington?

From the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, in the heart of Washington, in the United States.