287. National Mall

What is the National Mall?

The National Mall is a park in Washington DC that lies between the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building. It contains museums and various other sights. It is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks that also contains the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool - this is the best map I could find. The National Mall is where people gather for presidential inaugurations. It has also been the location for protests and rallies, the most famous being the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. 

What's the National Mall like?

I really like Washington DC - it's so big and monumental and the National Mall is a worthy centrepiece. I couldn't stop thinking about Forrest Gump though. 

Where is the National Mall?

Washington DC, USA 

When did we go?

July 2010 

How did we get there?

We were on a mini road-trip - we flew in to DC, also visited the Lincoln Memorial (removed from the 2020 edition) and then drove to Fell's Point near Baltimore, followed by Atlantic City and then Philadelphia where we went to Independence National Historic Park (376).

Worth noting

The picture below is actually of Pete in front of the Reflecting Pool, which sits in the broader National Mall and Memorial Parks. The National Mall proper is behind the obelisk (the Washington Monument) - you can also just see the Capitol Building dome behind the obelisk. 

Where was the National Mall in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List? 

171

Does the National Mall deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500?

Yes - it contains so many monuments and has been the site of many historical moments.