United States Washington, D.C. Photos of the National Mall in Washington, DC By Rachel Cooper Rachel Cooper Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Rachel Cooper is a travel writer who has lived in the Washington, D.C., area for more than 25 years. She is also the author of several books covering the capital and mid-Atlantic regions. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 06/26/19 Kevin Voelker Photography/Moment/Getty Images The National Mall is the central point of most sightseeing visits to Washington, DC. It is home to the Smithsonian Museums and the National Memorials and is the "must see" destination that attracts visitors from around the world. The Mall has many historic buildings and is a scenic destination. Enjoy the following photos and get a glimpse of the main attractions. 01 of 08 The Washington Monument Victoria Chamberlain / TripSavvy The Washington Monument, a memorial to George Washington, our nation's first president, is the most prominent landmark in Washington, DC and stands as the centerpiece of the National Mall. The monument can be seen from a great distance across the city. Continue to 2 of 8 below. 02 of 08 The U. S. Capitol Building Victoria Chamberlain / TripSavvy The U. S. Capitol Building is an impressive structure located at the opposite end of the National Mall from the Washington Monument. The building is Washington, DC's meeting chambers for the Senate and the House of Representatives. Continue to 3 of 8 below. 03 of 08 The Smithsonian Castle Medioimages/Photodisc / Getty Images The Smithsonian Castle houses the Smithsonian’s administrative offices and the Smithsonian Information Center. This Victorian style, red sandstone building was built in 1855 and is the oldest building on the National Mall. Continue to 4 of 8 below. 04 of 08 Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Tony Hisgett/Flickr/CC BY 2.0 The National Museum of Natural History is part of the Smithsonian Institution and houses a national collection of more than 125 million natural science specimens and cultural artifacts. The museum is one of the most family-friendly and popular attractions in Washington DC. Continue to 5 of 8 below. 05 of 08 National Mall Carousel Robert Alexander / Getty Images Children love to ride the carousel on the National Mall and marvel over the view of the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building. The carousel is located near the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building and is open year-round, weather permitting. Continue to 6 of 8 below. 06 of 08 Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Victoria Chamberlain / TripSavvy The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world. It is one of the most popular attractions on the National Mall in Washington DC. Continue to 7 of 8 below. 07 of 08 Korean War Memorial Peter Gridley / Getty Images The Korean War Memorial honors those who were killed, captured, wounded or remain missing in action during the Korean War (1950-1953). Nineteen figures represent every ethnic background. The statues are supported by a granite wall with 2,400 faces of land, sea and air support troops. Continue to 8 of 8 below. 08 of 08 Lincoln Memorial at Night Veni / Getty Images The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in 1922 to honor President Abraham Lincoln. The National Memorials are just beautiful at night when they are illuminated. Visiting them at dark is one of the most memorable experiences you may have when visiting Washington DC. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email