Washington’s magnificent memorials pay tribute to presidents, leaders and legions of war veterans who served their country. This circular route begins on Constitution Avenue and winds anti-clockwise to the National Mall, where you can swing by the USDA Farmers Market outside HQ and picnic on fresh crab-cakes and artisan grilled cheese, or nip in the National Museum of African American History for pure American soul food such as pan-fried Louisiana catfish, buttermilk chicken and mac-n-cheese in the Sweet Home Cafe.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
One of the country’s most visited monuments, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is a moving reminder of the 20-year war. It’s made up of the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall engraved with 58,000 names of those Americans who fought, died or went missing in action.
Korean Veterans Memorial
A few yards south is the Korean War Veterans Memorial to commemorate the 1.5 million who served in the Korean War. It has 19 stainless-steel figures, representing each branch of the US Armed Forces, plus a black granite mural wall etched with more than 2,000 images of war.
Lincoln Memorial
It’s a two-minute walk to the Lincoln Memorial, which pays tribute to America’s 16th president. This huge Greek-style edifice has 36 marble columns, each representing a US state at the time of Lincoln’s death. Inside is a 19-foot-high marble statue of the seated president and the Gettysburg Address engraved into the wall.
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
It’s a five-minute walk along Independence Avenue to the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial to honour one of America’s greatest leaders and an figurehead for equality. Based on the line “I have a dream” from a famous speech, it features a 30-foot-high statue of the Civil Rights leader carved into the Stone of Hope.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Wind around the Basin to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, dedicated to America’s third president. Completed in 1943, the imposing domed structure with marble columns was influenced by the Pantheon in Rome, as a nod to Jefferson’s love of Neoclassical architecture.
Washington Monument
Head back towards the National Mall and the Washington Monument, the 555-foot-high stone obelisk built to honour America’s first president. Now one of the DC skyline’s most defining features, visitors can take the lift up to the two viewing platforms for 360-degree views of the city.
Roosevelt Memorial
Overlooking the Tidal Basin is the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, a tribute to America’s longest-serving president. This vast edifice has four “outdoor rooms” representing each of his terms in office and features bronze sculptures of FDR, the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and his beloved dog, Fala, as well as scenes from the Great Depression and engravings of 21 famous FDR quotes.
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