Lincoln Memorial
- Address:Independence Avenue SW, at 23rd Street NW, National Mall, Washington D.C.
- Hours:Open 24 hours a day
- Admission:Free
Must-Do Experience, People Watching, Popular with Locals, Monument - Historical
12:44 AM Monday, May 28
Passing clouds. Mild.
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Here's a local secret: if you're ever stuck in a thunderstorm while wandering around the Mall, make a dash for the Lincoln Memorial. Thunder seems to rumble like clockwork nearly every 4th of July, and everyone in the know takes shelter under the marble dome, crouching near the foot of the enormous chair in which a gigantic Lincoln holds court.
In a city of icons, the Lincoln Memorial is truly a highlight. It's the classicism evoked by the Greek temple design, or the way the memorial so perfectly anchors the Mall's west end, or maybe just the stony dignity of Lincoln's gaze and the power of his speeches engraved in the wall. Nonetheless, a visit here while gazing over the 2,000ft(600m) Reflecting Pool is a defining D.C. moment.
For these are the steps where lovers kiss, schoolchildren lounge, protesters gather, and Martin Luther King Jr’s "I Have a Dream" speech seared itself into the national conscience. This stunning location is also a favorite spot for Hollywood blockbusters. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn discussed girls on the steps in the Wedding Crashers, while Reese Witherspoon's Elle Woods sought Lincoln's advice in Legally Blonde 2.
Latest Reviews All Lincoln Memorial Reviews »
This is a very good orientation tour. I thought we would only stop for photos, but we actually had time to visit the WWII, Jefferson, Vietnam Veterans, Lincoln, Korean and Iwo Jima Memorials. While we only toured the exteriors of the Capitol, White House and Washington Monument, our tour guide, Brian, provided interesting information at every stop. We also liked the cruise and lunch on the Potomac. We were very pleased with this tour.
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Outstanding tour! Tour guide, Bill Thomas was exceptional: friendly, well informed and articulate. The memorials we saw sparkled in the darkness and the three stops during wish we had time to get out of the bus and spend time were inspiring. We walked around 1. FDR and MLK, Jr. memorial, 2. Lincoln, World War II and Viet Nam memorials and 3. Iwo Jima statue. From the bus we saw and learned the history of Arlington Cemetery (the Lees,
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal light flickering at JFK's gravesite), Jefferson Memorial and other historic areas.
It was an awesome and educational night and
I recommend it with enthusiasm.
Funny, knowledgable tour guide. Got to see all the highlights and especially enjoyed seeing the Iwo Jima Marine memorial with the Lincoln Memorial, Wash Monument, and Capitol lit up in a line behind it.
Continue Reading »Practical Info
The Lincoln Memorial anchors the west end of the National Mall, perfectly balancing the long axis of the Mall, its back fronting the Potomac River. Like other attractions on the Mall, the memorial is accessible via public transportation. A visit here also serves as a respite from visiting museums, while still retaining the D.C. experience.
