Lincoln Memorial
National Mall—sample rating
Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is a neoclassical monument on the western end of the National Mall honoring the 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln. Designed by Henry Bacon and dedicated in 1922, the structure resembles a Greek Doric temple and houses Daniel Chester French's 19-foot marble statue of a seated Lincoln, flanked by inscriptions of his Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address. The memorial's steps have been the site of significant events in American history, most famously Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech during the March on Washington, marked today by an inscription on the steps. The site is free and open around the clock, with National Park Service rangers on duty during the day to answer questions. The view east across the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument and Capitol is one of the most photographed vistas in the country.
Why visit
It's one of the most iconic and historically significant memorials in the US, site of MLK's 'I Have a Dream' speech.
Best time to visit
Visit at night when it's dramatically lit and less crowded, or at sunrise for soft light over the Reflecting Pool.
Recommended duration
Allow about 0.8 hours (45 minutes).
Opening hours
- Every day
- 00:00-23:59
Open 24 hours; staffed by rangers roughly 9:30am-11:30pm. No tickets required.
Information may change — verify details before visiting.
Location
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20037
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Nearby attractions
National Mall
A vast open-air national park stretching between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, lined with iconic monuments and Smithsonian museums.
Washington Monument
A 555-foot marble obelisk honoring George Washington, offering sweeping views of DC from its observation level.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed neoclassical monument on the Tidal Basin honoring Thomas Jefferson, surrounded by famous cherry blossom trees.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
A granite memorial on the Tidal Basin featuring a colossal carved likeness of Dr. King emerging from a 'Stone of Hope.'
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
A sprawling outdoor memorial along the Tidal Basin divided into four outdoor 'rooms' representing FDR's four terms in office.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
A stark black granite wall inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 U.S. service members who died or went missing in the Vietnam War.
Nearby restaurants
Zaytinya
Mediterranean · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Ben's Chili Bowl
American / Comfort Food · $ · U Street
Mi Vida
Mexican · $$ · Navy Yard / Waterfront
Ambar Capitol Hill
Balkan · $$ · Capitol Hill
Centrolina
Italian · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Maketto
Cambodian / Taiwanese · $$ · Capitol Hill
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