Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Washington, District of Columbia
Tel:
(202) 690-5185
Visit one of the largest national parks in North America at the National Mall and Memorial Parks (also known as National Capital Parks-Central), in Washington, D.C. The National Mall and Memorial Parks is an administrative unit of the National Park Service encompassing many national memorials and other areas in the Washington, D.C., including the African-American Civil War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Washington Monument. The 6,547-acre National Mall and Memorial Parks offers a tremendous variety of tours and other outdoor activities.
Elements of the National Mall and Memorial Parks have been federally owned and administered since 1790. In 1933, the National Mall and Memorial Parks were officially transferred to the control of the National Park Service. Until 1965, the National Mall and Memorial Parks were known collectively as the National Capital Parks, though today, the National Park Service operates several park groupings in the Washington area, including National Capital Parks-East, Rock Creek Park, President's Park, and others.
The National Mall and Memorial Parks offers all the tours associated with its constituent parks. A few of these include: A tour of the Ford's Theatre National Historic Site that takes visitors to the theatre itself, the museum in the basement displaying numerous artifacts from Lincoln's assassination, and the Petersen House, the site to which Lincoln was moved in his last hours; A tour of the Old Post Office Tower affords one of the most spectacular views of Washington from its 270 foot-high observation deck, and the tower includes an exhibit room depicting the building's struggle against demolition; A self-guided tour of The Korean War Veterans Memorial focusing on the symbolism of the site. After enjoying the National Mall and Memorial Parks, visitors can find hundreds of restaurants all over Washington, with everything from Thai cuisine to deli.
To get to the various parts of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, take a ride on Washington's Tourmobile Sightseeing service, with a stop just outside the Union Station Metro Station on the Red Line Metro train.
Visit the National Mall and Memorial Parks and get a taste of everything Washington has to offer.