The capital of the United States and home to all three branches of government, Washington, D.C. is filled with history. And, as the political center of the nation since 1790, the capital city contains a variety of national monuments and memorials, particularly within the grounds of the National Mall and Memorial Parks. While only one landmark in Washington, D.C. has actually been designated an official “national monument,” there are numerous monuments that have been designated “national memorials.”
President Lincoln’s Cottage, formally called “President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home," is the only landmark within Washington, D.C. actually designated a “national monument.” The fully-restored, two-story house once served as a summer and autumn home for President Abraham Lincoln during the civil war. Part of the reason Lincoln stayed at the cottage was that it was at the outskirts of Washington, D.C., near the military hospitals of the time, where he and his wife would often visit injured soldiers. Before Lincoln and his family lived there, prior-President James Buchanan stayed occasionally at the cottage, which was originally built in 1851, as a home for disabled and retired veterans. The National Trust for Historic Preservation conducts tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. The cottage is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
President Lincoln's Cottage
AFRH-W Box 1315
3700 North Capitol St. NW
Washington, DC 20011
202-829-0436
lincolncottage.org
Despite its name, this monument to President George Washington is actually designated a “national memorial.” A 555-foot obelisk, the Washington Monument stands taller than any other building in Washington, D.C., making it the prominent feature of the capital’s landscape. The monument was built over two separate construction phases that spanned more than 25 years. It was finished in 1884. The Washington Monument is managed by the National Park Service and is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Visitors can take free, guided trips to the top of this monolithic obelisk via elevator and look out upon the nation’s capital all four directions. The site is open daily, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the summer months, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all other times of the year.
National Mall and Memorial Parks – Washington Monument
900 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, DC 20024
202-426-6841
nps.gov/wamo
Also located in the National Mall and Memorial Parks, the Lincoln Memorial is perhaps one of the most recognizable monuments in Washington, D.C. Adorning the back of every penny made between 1959 and 2008, this monument to President Abraham Lincoln consists of both a 19-foot-tall statue of Lincoln and the giant, columnar temple that houses it. The memorial stays open to the public 24 hours a day, and free, guided tours are held every day, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
National Mall and Memorial Parks – Lincoln Memorial
900 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, DC 20024
202-426-6841
nps.gov/linc
