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Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington, VA

Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFree

Marine Corps War Memorial

Arlington Ridge Park, beside Arlington National Cemetery · Arlington, VA

Why you should go…

The memorial recreates Joe Rosenthal's photograph of six Marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. Felix de Weldon's bronze figures stand 32 feet tall and lift a 60-foot flagpole over a granite base. It honors every Marine who has died in service since 1775, and the flag flies around the clock by presidential proclamation. The site sits in Arlington Ridge Park beside Arlington National Cemetery.

  • #war memorial
  • #iwo jima memorial
  • #monument
  • #military history

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Marine Corps War Memorial, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Arlington National Cemetery

    Free

    Hallowed ground across the Potomac: the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the changing of the guard, and the Kennedy gravesites.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Historic

    Arlington National Cemetery Tours

    Under $25

    Narrated hop-on hop-off tram loop inside Arlington National Cemetery, stopping at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Kennedy gravesite and Arlington House.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Key Bridge Boathouse

    Under $25

    A Georgetown boathouse on the Potomac renting kayaks, canoes and paddleboards with guided tours available.

    1.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Lincoln Memorial

    Free

    Climb the marble steps where Dr. King spoke and take in the Mall's most moving view, free and open 24 hours.

    1.1 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Vietnam Veterans Memorial

    Free

    Walk the black granite wall etched with more than 58,000 names, then see the Three Servicemen statue and the Vietnam Women's Memorial.

    1.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Dumbarton Oaks

    Free

    See Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art in a Georgetown mansion, then wander terraced gardens designed by Beatrix Farrand.

    1.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums