National World War II Memorial
National Mall—sample rating
Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About National World War II Memorial
The National World War II Memorial, dedicated in 2004, occupies a prominent plaza between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial at the eastern end of the Rainbow Pool. It features 56 granite pillars representing the U.S. states and territories at the time of the war, and two triumphal arches symbolizing the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. A Freedom Wall on the memorial's western side holds 4,048 gold stars, each representing 100 American deaths during the war—more than 400,000 in total. The memorial's fountains and central plaza make it a popular gathering and photography spot, especially in the evening when illuminated.
Why visit
Its grand scale, fountains and Freedom Wall of gold stars make it a moving tribute to the WWII generation.
Best time to visit
Visit at dusk when the fountains are lit and the Washington Monument glows behind the plaza.
Recommended duration
Allow about 0.5 hours (30 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
1750 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
Load Google Maps content — this may set cookies.
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
Flights to New York
Live round-trip fares from Travelpayouts partners.
Partner links — our site's partners are Expedia, GetYourGuide, Go City, Big Bus Tours, Hotellook, Kiwitaxi and Localrent; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Stay near National Mall
Browse stays in New York by budget and style — prices and availability open on our booking partner's site.
Partner links — we're partnered with Expedia and Hotellook; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.