Historic D.C. Mall Hike
Washington, DC
- Distance: 8.8 miles (14.2 km)
- Time: 9 h
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Loop
- Free
- 26 stops
A hike covering the primary Washington DC destinations on the National Mall, with challenges at each stop to make it more interesting. The route takes you to destinations like the White House and the Capitol Building and concludes at the Smithsonian Castle, which is closed for renovation but still worth seeing from outside.
Trail start
Trail start. Public transit stop.
Stops
Washington Monument
Construction started on the Washington Monument in 1848 and was completed in 1884. It's the world's tallest stone structure at 555 ft. When completed, it was the world's tallest structure until 1889, when a certain famous steel tower in Paris was built. The Washington Monument is open from 9:00am…
National World War II Memorial
The WWII Memorial opened in 2004. It honors the 16 million people that served in the armed forces during World War II and the millions of Americans that supported the effort at home. The memorial was funded with mostly private donations.
District of Columbia War Memorial
This small memorial is dedicated to the 499 residents of the District of Columbia that gave their lives during the conflict. In 2011, it was restored and rededicated to the D.C. residents who served. About 4.7 million Americans served in WWI. The national memorial to all of them is in Pershing…
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
In 2011, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial opened. It was the first memorial on or near The Mall dedicated to an African American. It's also one of only four dedications honoring non-presidents in the National Mall. Take some time here to read the inspiring inscriptions. Look behind the MLK…
Korean War Veterans Memorial
The Korean War Veterans Memorial opened in 1995, the 42nd year anniversary of the armistice. The statues of the squad soldiers are quite moving. The Korean War was fought from 1950-1953 between the Communist North and the Democratic South.
Lincoln Memorial
This stunning building opened in 1922 after eight years of construction. The statue of Lincoln inside is 19 feet tall. The inside is as impressive as the exterior. It was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous speech. The reflecting pool was built…
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors U.S. service members who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia and those service members who were unaccounted for (Missing In Action) during the war. Its construction and related issues have been the source of…
The Big Red One and the Eisenhower Executive Office Complex
This monument is dedicated to the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division, nicknamed the Big Red One. The large column and statue represents the service of the 1st Infantry Division soldiers in World War I. Also surrounding the monument are memorials dedicated to the 1st Infantry Division soldiers who…
Lafayette Square
Lafayette Square preserves many of the original residences of the early Washington elite. Most of these homes are done in the Federal style popular in America in the early 1800's. Once on Pennsylvania Avenue, you will see the Blair House on the left. Built in 1824, it is the official state guest…
The White House - North Lawn
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the most famous address in America. Every president except Washington has served the American people from here. Built between 1792 and 1800, it's the oldest public building in the city. To the right of its center (west), you'll see the west wing and the location of the…
The Treasury Building
The Treasury Building was built in three phases, beginning in 1836 with completion in 1869. The statue at the front of the Treasury Building is of Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton established the National Bank and the U.S. Mint, designed a system of tariffs and was…
The White House - South Lawn
The South Lawn of the White House is where the President's helicopter, Marine 1, lands and it's also where many traditional White House events take place. Also on the South Lawn is the current kitchen garden, planted by Michelle Obama in 2009 with the help of local school children. Tours of the…
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a place where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to them personally, and how it helped us shape this nation. This museum transcends the boundaries of race and…
National Museum of American History
Since this is a historic hike, we feel this museum is an especially important place to visit. Opening in 1964, this museum now houses the American History collection. Youth groups may chose to skip this museum because after a day of historic sights it may be a bit too much to take in for one day…
National Museum of Natural History
This is one of the most popular museums in the capital, especially for youth groups. It has dinosaurs, life size whales, huge shark teeth and giant gems. It's amazing!
National Archives
Here you will see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Each person may bring one bag no larger than 17 by 26 inches, and everything goes through security.
National Gallery of Art
Completed in 1941 through an act of Congress, the National Gallery of Art has an amazing collection and is believed to be one of the best in North America. The Gallery's collection traces the development of Western Art from the Middle Ages to the present and includes many major works from artists…
U.S. Grant Memorial
This memorial honoring the General and the President began in 1902 and took 20 years to complete. It's the largest equestrian monument in the United States. Take some time to explore the details of this memorial.
The Capitol - West Side
This building was designed by William Thornton after winning a competition suggested by Thomas Jefferson. The groundbreaking was in 1793 and George Washington himself laid the cornerstone. Congress met for the first time in 1800 with the building incomplete. Along with the White House and other…
The Summerhouse
The Summerhouse is a brick structure set into the sloping hillside of the west Front Lawn among the paths that lead from Pennsylvania Avenue to the Senate side of the Capitol. This structure has offered rest and shelter to travelers for over a century. Constructed to provide comfort for those who…
The Capitol Tour (Capitol Visitor Center)
The Capitol Visitor Center is open to visitors with tour reservations from 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday through Saturday except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day. Tours run Monday through Saturday, and the last one starts at 3:20pm. It's a very interesting tour.
The Supreme Court
This building was built in 1935 to house the Supreme Court, which was originally housed in the Capitol Building. You can walk through the building (open weekdays 9am - 3pm) and lectures are available, but not necessary.
Library of Congress
Established in 1800 by Congress, the library was once housed in the Capitol Building. The current building was complete in 1897 to accommodate the expansion of the library. It is now the largest library in the world. The main reading room and the great hall are impressive. A free timed-entry pass…
National Museum of the American Indian
This 2004 museum has on display many artifacts from the Heye Collection. George Gustav Heye traveled through North and South America between 1903 and 1957. The National Museum of the American Indian houses one of the world's largest and most diverse collections of its kind. The museum's sweeping…
National Air and Space Museum
This is perhaps the most popular museum with youth groups. In fact, since opening in 1976, it quickly became one of the most visited museums in the world. It has the actual "Spirit of St. Louis", the Apollo 11 Command Module, a touchable lunar rock, an IMAX theater and incredible displays. Free…
Smithsonian Castle and Associated Museums
The Smithsonian Castle was completed in 1855 in the Norman style, a mix of Romanesque and Gothic. It is closed for a major renovation, so you can only see it from outside, but the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind it stays open. There are four museums open in this area. If you still have energy feel free…
Created by HistoricTrails.org.