Lincoln Memorial
4.8(54K)google
4.8(1.3K)yelp
HistoryCity LandmarkPhoto SpotMust-SeeFree
Overview
The Lincoln Memorial is an awe-inspiring monument built to honor the 16th President of the United States, designed in the form of a classic Greek Doric temple. Inside the monument sits a colossal, detailed marble statue of Abraham Lincoln, flanked by inscriptions of his legendary Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address. Standing on the grand steps, visitors can gaze down the monumental Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument, retracing the exact spot where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic speech.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 30-60 minutes
Best TimeSunrise (when the morning sky colors the glassy reflecting pool) or late evening (when the statue is beautifully illuminated) are the absolute best times to visit, successfully avoiding the massive daytime tour bus crowds.
Getting ThereTake the Metro Blue, Orange, or Silver lines to the Foggy Bottom-GWU station, then walk south down 23rd Street past Constitution Avenue for about 15 minutes to reach the monument at the west end of the Mall.
Travel Tips
- Most tourists only view the giant seated Lincoln statue and leave. Walk to the lower left side of the marble steps to find the entrance to the free 'Undercroft Museum'. It houses exhibits on the memorial's construction, powerful air conditioning, and the cleanest, shortest-line public restrooms on the west end of the Mall.
- The memorial is open 24/7 with no fee, but daytime is packed with tour buses. Optimize your itinerary by visiting between 9:00 PM and midnight. The sharp uplighting against the marble and columns is stunning, and regular National Park Police patrols keep the area exceptionally safe. Foggy Bottom is a 15-minute walk.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- To capture the unobstructed reflection of the Washington Monument, skip the top balcony near the statue where tourist crowds block the view. Walk down to the absolute lowest granite lip right at the edge of the Reflecting Pool. Crop tightly from a low angle along the center axis to eliminate human clutter.
Reviews
Positive
- The monumental Lincoln statue housed in a Greek-style marble temple is awe-inspiring; reading the Gettysburg Address on the walls delivers profound historical resonance.
- Looking out over the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument offers an iconic, perfectly symmetrical vista, framing the capital's best sunrise and sunset shots.
- Open free 24/7; a midnight stroll is spectacular when the glowing marble colonnade shines against the dark sky, free from daytime tourist noise for ultimate serenity.
- The lower-level undercroft houses a modern, air-conditioned mini-museum alongside clean, stroller-accessible restrooms and an elevator direct to the main hall.
- The Lincoln statue is incredibly massive and divine; standing on the steps looking out at the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool is visually stunning, especially at sunset.
- It is free to the public 24 hours a day, with flat and wide surrounding paths. Although a century old, the lower level features a modern accessible elevator to the top.
- National Park Service rangers constantly patrol, ensuring superb safety; at night, the lights shining on the white marble create a solemn and serene atmosphere.
- No ticket is required to get up close with America's premier historic totem, and there are no overpriced shops nearby, representing pure humanistic value.
Heads up
- As DC's most visited monument, the stone steps are perpetually swarming with dense, loud crowds, making clean, uncrowded landscape photography nearly impossible.
- The location is public transit-isolated; it demands a long, sweaty 20-minute walk from the nearest Metro across wide pavements entirely stripped of tree shade.
- The steps frequently serve as an active flashpoint for loud political rallies and demonstrations, which can degrade the peaceful, reflective atmosphere with heavy noise.
- The exterior stone staircase is colossally long and steep; during rainy days or winter frost, the slick marble surface turns incredibly slippery, posing safety hazards.
- As Washington's most popular spot, the steps and the statue front are permanently packed with people taking photos, making a clean shot impossible.
- The top level of the memorial lacks restrooms; visitors must walk to a remote corner on the lower level to queue, where trash cans are often overflowing.
- Located at the westernmost end of the National Mall, it requires a walk of over 15 minutes from the nearest metro, which is exhausting under the summer sun.
- There are no affordable dining options nearby, forcing visitors to buy overpriced water and hotdogs from food trucks, and no food/drinks are allowed inside.
Filming Locations
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