District of Columbia - Sights - National Mall

Sights of the National Mall area



By far more popular is the Lincoln Memorial and its reflecting pool, site of many famous gatherings in modern American history.


The states and their admission dates scroll around the top of the memorial but you won't find Hawaii or Alaska because it was completed in 1922. Inside are the Gettysburg Address (left wall) and Lincoln's second inaugural address (right wall).


As seen from the Lincoln Memorial and then from the other side, the iconic Washington Monument (but then again, everything on the National Mall is iconic). There are plenty more views on my July 4th page.


Next building down, the Capitol, from the west and east respectively.


A pair of views from the south (New Jersey Avenue), one clearer but one more expansive.


Looking progressively up the east side of the Capitol, which has been topped by the Statue of Freedom (or Freedom Triumphant in War and Peace) since 1863, the most empowered a woman could be in the 19th century.


Southerly, westerly and northerly views of the domed Thomas Jefferson Building, built in 1897 to house the Library of Congress - hence its proximity to the Capitol.


From top to bottom, many of the architectural details of the TJ Building. It appears that the upper windows have a row of "great men" (not presidents), but I can't identify them even at this resolution.


Roland Hinton Perry sculpted the Court of Neptune fountain in 1898, featuring Neptune's sons blowing conchs and Nereids riding horses (why not dolphins?). The bronze figures are twice human size.


The John Adams Building, across 2nd Street from Jefferson, was built in 1938 to house more of the Library of Congress. James Madison got the next one in 1981.


Also in the mall, a small monument to World War I (or just The World War at the time) and a larger one to World War II.


Not sure how the states are arranged, because the states flanking the Pacific entrance aren't Pacific states or in admission order. Across the fountain is the Atlantic entrance.


One more Mall memorial, that for Vietnam. All of those who were lost are inscribed on the shiny V-shaped wall.


Looking north across the Mall at the Dept. of Commerce and International Trade Center, then two sides of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.


The Department of Agriculture building is impressive from all sides, including its two arches over Independence Ave. and its western frontage on 14th St.


Heading east, the Supreme Court building is a block east of the Mall between 1st and 2nd Streets East. This is the lesser-viewed eastern face, whose upper frieze (or "architrave," today we both learn) was sculpted by Hermon MacNeil and features Moses, Confucius, and Solon at center.

Around the city
Back to Sights of DC main page


Back to D.C. Non-Roads
Back to Non-Roads main page