Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
National Mall—sample rating
Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, dedicated in 2011, honors the civil rights leader with a granite sculpture depicting him emerging from a 'Stone of Hope,' which stands between two other massive stones representing the 'Mountain of Despair.' The design, by sculptor Lei Yixin, was inspired by a line from King's 'I Have a Dream' speech. A 450-foot inscription wall surrounding the plaza features quotations from King's speeches and writings, spanning his life from 1955 to 1968. The memorial occupies a four-acre site on the Tidal Basin, between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, and was the first on the National Mall dedicated to an African American and to a non-president. The site is free and open around the clock and is especially popular combined with a walk around the Tidal Basin.
Why visit
It's a powerful tribute to the civil rights movement with moving inscriptions and Tidal Basin views.
Best time to visit
Visit in late afternoon light or combine with a Tidal Basin paddle boat ride and cherry blossom viewing in spring.
Recommended duration
Allow about 0.7 hours (40 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
1964 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
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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.
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.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
A memorial featuring 19 stainless steel soldier statues advancing through juniper bushes, honoring those who served in the Korean 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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