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District of Columbia

30 parks

African American Civil War Memorial
Park

African American Civil War Memorial

Over 200,000 African-American soldiers and sailors served in the U.S. Army and Navy during the Civil War. Their service helped to end the war and free over four million slaves. The African American Civil War Memorial honors their service and sacrifice.

Park ClosureMar 1Belmont-Paul Women's Equality NM currently closed
Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument
National Monument

Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument

Home to the National Woman's Party for more than 90 years, this was the epicenter of the struggle for women's rights. From this house in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court, Alice Paul and the NWP developed innovative strategies and tactics to advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment and equality for women. President Barack Obama designated the national monument on April 12, 2016.

Park ClosureFeb 9Folger Park Closed for Rehabilitation
Capitol Hill Parks
Park

Capitol Hill Parks

The Capitol Hill Parks include several park areas east of the U.S. Capitol. Included in this group are Folger, Lincoln, Stanton, and Marion Parks, the Eastern Market and Potomac Avenue Metro stations, and several smaller land parcels such as Seward Square, Twining Square, the Maryland Avenue Triangles, the Pennsylvania Avenue Medians, and 59 inner-city triangles and squares.

Park ClosureOct 10Carter G. Woodson Home NHS temporarily closed.
Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site

Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site

Before Dr. Carter G. Woodson, there was very little accurate written history about the lives and experiences of Americans of African descent. Today a National Historic Site, Dr. Woodson’s home served as the headquarters for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Dr. Woodson established Negro History Week here in 1926, which we celebrate today as Black History Month.

CautionMar 2DC Water Sewer Overflow
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures.

Chesapeake Bay
Park

Chesapeake Bay

Over 41 million acres are connected through the waters that flow to and through Chesapeake Bay. The National Park Service strives to connect people to the opportunities and adventures throughout the watershed. Inspiring stewardship across this vast region supports recreation, business, tourism, learning, and a thriving natural resource for all to enjoy.

Civil War Defenses of Washington
Park

Civil War Defenses of Washington

On forested hills surrounding the nation's capital are the remnants of a complex system of Civil War fortifications. These strategic buttresses transformed the young capital into one of the world's most fortified cities. By 1865, 68 forts and 93 batteries armed with over 800 cannons encircled Washington, DC. Today, you can visit 18 of the original sites now managed by the National Park Service.

Constitution Gardens
Park

Constitution Gardens

Officially established in 1965, National Mall and Memorial Parks actually protects some of the older parkland in the National Park System. Areas within this premier park provide visitors with ample opportunities to commemorate presidential legacies; honor the courage and sacrifice of war veterans; and celebrate the United States commitment to freedom and equality.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
Memorial

Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial tells the story of one of America's greatest leaders of the 20th century.

Ford's Theatre National Historic Site
National Historic Site

Ford's Theatre National Historic Site

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre. Discover how everyday people experienced a national tragedy and how we have remembered a fallen leader. Today, in partnership with Ford’s Theatre Society, live dramatic productions highlight Lincoln’s love of the theatre and the power of stories to connect us to ourselves and our history.

Fort Dupont Park
Park

Fort Dupont Park

This 361 acre wooded park was once home to an earthen fort built to protect Washington, DC, during the Civil War. Today, visitors can see the fort's earthworks and escape to the great outdoors. Activities include picnics, nature walks, biking, gardening, environmental education, music, and ranger-led programs.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Park

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

These words by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ushered the United States into World War II and defined what it is to be an American. Stop by this secluded memorial and begin to understand the Roosevelt legacy.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
National Historic Site

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

Frederick Douglass spent his life fighting for justice and equality. Born into slavery in 1818, he escaped as a young man and became a leading voice in the abolitionist movement. People everywhere still find inspiration today in his tireless struggle, brilliant words, and inclusive vision of humanity. Douglass's legacy is preserved here at Cedar Hill, where he lived his last 17 years.

Park ClosureFeb 22Temporary Closure of Right Lane of Clara Barton Parkway
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Memorial Parkway

George Washington Memorial Parkway

The George Washington Memorial Parkway was designed for recreational driving. It links sites that commemorate important episodes in American history and preserve habitat for local wildlife. The parkway and its associated trails provide a scenic place to play and rest in the busy Washington, DC metropolitan area.

DangerFeb 5Vehicle Weight Limit at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Entrance
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Park

Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

Deep within Kenilworth lies an oasis, hidden behind trees and cattails. It's a place where beavers build their homes and turtles sleep on logs. Lotus blooms rise from the muck and lilies sit on the water. The wind dances with the dragonflies, rustling through the trees, carrying the song of the birds until it brushes across your face, fading to a whisper, saying "come join."

Korean War Veterans Memorial
Park

Korean War Veterans Memorial

At the Korean War Veterans Memorial, "Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met."

LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac
Park

LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac

From this distance the seat of national power appears pristine across the river, so President Johnson came here often when he needed to escape from the stresses of building a Great Society. After he died, his wife chose this place for his memorial. A landscape of serpentine paths, white pines, a granite monolith, and an open meadow honors his legacy of social justice and conservation legislation.

Lincoln Memorial
Park

Lincoln Memorial

"...as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." Beneath these words, the 16th president of the United States sits immortalized in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength, and wisdom.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Park

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Located in downtown Washington, DC, the memorial honors Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy and the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice. A prominent leader in the modern civil rights movement, Dr. King was a tireless advocate for racial equality, working class, and the oppressed around the world.

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
National Historic Site

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site

Mary McLeod Bethune achieved her greatest recognition at the Washington, DC townhouse that is now this National Historic Site. The Council House was the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and was Bethune’s last home in Washington, DC. From here, Bethune and the NCNW spearheaded strategies and developed programs that advanced the interests of African American women.

National Capital Parks-East
Park

National Capital Parks-East

National Capital Parks — East invites you to explore more than 8,000 acres of scenic parkland, historic landmarks, and vibrant community spaces across Washington, D.C. and Maryland. From the riverside trails of Anacostia Park to the homes of American leaders like Frederick Douglass and Carter G. Woodson, each of our 17 nationally significant parks offers a distinct experience.

InformationFeb 6Old Post Office Tower is Closed
National Mall and Memorial Parks
Park

National Mall and Memorial Parks

This is where the nation comes to remember and where history is made. As “America’s Front Yard,” the National Mall and Memorial Parks is home to many of our country’s most iconic memorials telling the story of people and events that shaped us as a nation. Each year, millions of people come to recreate, commemorate presidential legacies, honor our veterans, and make their voices heard.

Park ClosureFeb 6Old Post Office Tower is Closed
Pennsylvania Avenue
Park

Pennsylvania Avenue

A street unlike any other. It is known the world over as the heart of the Nation's Capital. America's history has marched, paraded, promenaded, and protested its way along the Avenue.

The White House and President's Park
Park

The White House and President's Park

The White House is owned by the American people and stewarded by the National Park Service. It is more than the President's residence; it is a site for protests and national discourse about what it means to be American. As one of the most iconic sites in the country, the White House and President's Park seeks to tell the stories of all people who have lived, worked, and visited.

CautionFeb 19DC Water Sewer Overflow
Theodore Roosevelt Island
Park

Theodore Roosevelt Island

In the 1930s, landscape architects transformed Mason’s Island from neglected, overgrown farmland into Theodore Roosevelt Island, a memorial to America’s 26th president. They conceived a “real forest” designed to mimic the natural forest that once covered the island. Today miles of trails through wooded uplands and swampy bottomlands honor the legacy of a great outdoorsman and conservationist.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Park

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Author of the Declaration of Independence, statesman and visionary for the founding of a nation.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Park

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Honoring the men and women who served in the controversial Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial chronologically lists the names of 58,318 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country.

InformationDec 14Washington Monument is closed for maintenance one day each month
Washington Monument
Park

Washington Monument

Built to honor George Washington, the United States' first president, the 555-foot marble obelisk towers over Washington, D.C.

World War I Memorial
Park

World War I Memorial

A grateful nation honors the service, valor, courage and sacrifice of the 4.7 million American sons and daughters who served in the Great War.

InformationJan 20Temporary Closures While World War II Memorial Updates Lighting, Fountains
World War II Memorial
Park

World War II Memorial

Through stone architecture and bronze sculptures, the World War II Memorial recognizes the ways Americans served, honors those who fell, and recognizes the victory they achieved to restore freedom and end tyranny around the globe.