National Mall and Memorial Parks

The National Mall & Memorial Parks protects some of the older parkland in The National Park System. This premier park preserves some of the country’s most significant moments in history, providing visitors with ample opportunities to commemorate presidential legacies, honor the courage of war veterans, and celebrate the United States commitment to freedom and equality. The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Park Service (NPS) administers the National Mall, which is part of its National Mall and Memorial Parks unit Place for holidays. The term National Mall commonly includes areas that are officially part of West Potomac Park and Constitution Gardens to the west, and often is taken to refer to the entire area between the Lincoln Memorial and the United States Capitol, with the Washington Monument providing a division slightly west of the center. The National Mall receives approximately 24 million visitors each year.

History of National Mall and Memorial Parks

Approved on July 16, 1790, except for 42 acres transferred later from other agencies. Transferred from Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital on August 10, 1933.

Boundaries of the National Mall

In 1981, the NPS defined the official boundaries of the National Mall (National Mall proper) as Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues on the north, 1st Street NW on the east, Independence and Maryland Avenues on the south, and 14th Street NW on the west, with the exception of the section of land bordered by Jefferson Drive on the north, Independence Avenue on the south, and by 12th and 14th Streets respectively on the east and west, which the U.S. Department of Agricultureadministers and which contains the Jamie L.

In 2011, the 112th United States Congress enacted the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2012, which transferred to the Architect of the Capitol the NPS “property which is bounded on the north by Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, on the east by First Street Northwest and First Street Southwest, on the south by Maryland Avenue Southwest, and on the west by Third Street Southwest and Third Street Northwest”. National Mall and Memorial Parks is a Beautiful Place For Vacations. This Act relocated the official eastern boundary of the Mall from 1st Street NW and SW to 3rd Street NW and SW, removing Union Square (the area containing the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial and the Capitol Reflecting Pool) from NPS jurisdiction.People often consider areas outside of the Mall’s official boundaries to be part of the Mall.

When to Visit

The public may visit the park 24 hours a day. Rangers are on duty at the Memorial Sites to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily.

Getting There

For visitors driving into Washington, D.C., keep in mind that parking is limited and can get expensive. Public transportation is a great option. However, Interstate 395 provides access to The National Mall and Memorial Parks from the South. Interstate 495, New York Avenue, Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, George Washington Memorial Parkway, and the Cabin John Parkway will all provide access from the North. Interstate 66, U.S. Routes 50 and 29 provide access from the West, while U.S. Routes 50, 1, and 4 provide access from the East.If you are flying in from out of town, there are three major airports that serve the area: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. All have limousine, taxi, or Metro services available that will connect with The National Mall and Memorial Parks.