The National Mall is surrounded by some of the most famous museums, memorials, and government buildings in Washington DC. The Mall, as locals call it, is an expansive green lawn lined by trees on each side. Located right in the heart of the nation’s capitol, the National Mall gets approximately 24 million visitors per year that spans from the Lincoln Memorial to the US Capitol between Constitution and Independence Avenue. The Mall is easy to reach by public transportation—plus most sites there are free of charge.

Museums
Along the Mall are some of the most well-known history, art, and cultural museums in the nation. These include 10 Smithsonian Museums, such as the National Gallery of Art, which is considered one of the finest art collections worldwide and features work by masters including El Greco, Picasso, Vermeer, Vincent van Gogh, and many others. The National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, and National Air and Space Museum are also on the Mall. One of the most popular museums in DC, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum , is just steps away from the south side of the Mall.

Memorials
A number of national memorials and monuments are placed throughout the National Mall. One of the most well-known is the obelisk-shaped Washington Monument close to the center of the Mall. Visitors can travel up to the top at over 550 feet, by elevator for some of the best views they will see during their visit. The Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool is another very popular tourist attraction that is close to several monuments including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, and slightly south of the Mall, the Jefferson Memorial.  On the east side of the Mall, visit the world's third largest equestrian statue, part of the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, along with other memorials in the vicinity of the US Capitol Complex.

Government Buildings
Federal government buildings flank the National Mall on all sides. The Capitol Building stands at the East of the Mall. The White House lies slightly north of the Mall, located a few blocks north of the Washington Monument near the center of the Mall. Each place offers tours that can be arranged in advance. Plus, by the US Capitol Building is the Capitol Reflecting Pool with several memorials to see.

Gardens
The most famous gardens around the National Mall include the United States Botanic Garden at the east near the Capitol Building. These gardens contain a Conservatory with an indoor jungle, waterfall, and tropical canopy with a catwalk for those who wish to view it from above. The Bartholdi Park hosts beautiful gardens surrounding a fountain designed by Frederic Bartholdi the Frenchman who designed the Statue of Liberty. On the opposite end of the Mall lie the lush Constitution Gardens complete with a small lake and island accessible by pedestrians. This island is dedicated to the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and for this reason displays 56 stones that show the names and signatures of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. Other gardens visitors enjoy include the sculpture gardens outside of the National Gallery of Art and Hirshhorn Museum.

Events
The wide open space and convenient central location of the Mall have made it the location of many historic and annual events.  In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech on the Mall during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Every four years, during the presidential inauguration, people gather along the Mall to catch a glimpse of the event at the US Capitol (though official ticket holders have a better vantage point). Locals and tourists alike enjoy the annual July 4 fireworks festival, Earth Day celebration in late April, and National Symphony Orchestra concerts in both May for Memorial Day and the Labor Day Capitol Concert in September—all at the National Mall.

This part of Washington DC is both full of activity, and also easy to reach. It is recommended to take the Metro as parking in the DC area is notoriously scarce. The Smithsonian, Federal Triangle, and Archives metro stops are convenient stops depending what attractions you plan to visit first. Just be sure to schedule plenty of time—visitors can spend days touring attractions along the National Mall and still have trouble seeing it all!