Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool
The seated Lincoln looks down the Mall to the Washington Monument. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech from these steps; the spot is marked. The Vietnam Veterans, Korean War and World War II memorials are all within a few minutes' walk. Open 24 hours, and best at sunrise or after dark.
- Open
- Open at all times; rangers on duty during the day and evening
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Best time
- Sunrise for quiet, or after dark when it's floodlit.
- Address
- 2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20002Google MapsApple Maps
- Getting there
- Foggy Bottom–GWU or Smithsonian Metro (Blue, Orange, Silver), then a 20-minute walk.
- Accessibility
- An elevator inside the base, to the left of the steps, reaches the chamber.
- On site
- Restrooms and a small bookstore on the lower level; no food.
Why go
Dedicated in 1922, the memorial is a Greek temple with 36 columns, one for each state in the Union when Lincoln died. Inside, the 19-foot seated statue is flanked by the Gettysburg Address and his second inaugural speech carved into the walls. From the steps, the Reflecting Pool leads the eye down the Mall to the Washington Monument and the Capitol.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, with its black wall of 58,000 names, are a few minutes' walk on either side, and the World War II Memorial is at the far end of the Reflecting Pool.
Tips
- Find the engraved marker on the steps where Martin Luther King Jr. stood to give his "I Have a Dream" speech.
- Walk the whole Mall from here to the Capitol only if you have the energy: it's about 2 miles.
