Lincoln Memorial

The temple-like memorial honoring America's 16th president has become the nation's preeminent stage for protest, celebration, and reflection since its dedication in 1922. Daniel Chester French's seated Lincoln gazes across the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument while the Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural inscribed on the walls provide the words that define American ideals. The memorial's steps witnessed Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech and countless other moments that have shaped the ongoing American experiment in democracy.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Maya Lin's revolutionary design—a black granite wall inscribed with the names of 58,320 Americans who died or went missing in Vietnam—transformed memorial architecture and created a space for national healing that continues to move visitors to tears. The wall's reflective surface allows visitors to see themselves among the names, while the chronological arrangement from first casualty to last traces the war's terrible arc. The adjacent Three Soldiers statue and Vietnam Women's Memorial complete a complex that honors all who served in America's most divisive modern conflict. 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free