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World War II Memorial, Washington, DC

Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFree

World War II Memorial

National Mall, between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument · Washington, DC

Why you should go…

The World War II Memorial sits on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Fifty-six granite pillars, for the states, D.C. and territories of the era, ring an oval plaza and fountain, with two 43-foot arches marking the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. On the Freedom Wall, 4,048 gold stars each stand for 100 Americans who died in the war. The memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces and was dedicated in 2004.

  • #war memorial
  • #national mall
  • #monument
  • #world war ii 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 World War II 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

    Washington Monument

    Free

    Ride 500 feet up the world's tallest stone obelisk for the only aerial panorama of the White House, Capitol, and Mall.

    0.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

    Free

    See Dr. King's 30-foot granite likeness emerge from the Stone of Hope beside the Tidal Basin, ringed by a wall of his words.

    0.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Tidal Basin

    Free

    Walk the path around a 107-acre basin lined with cherry trees, past the Jefferson, FDR and Martin Luther King, Jr. memorials.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Korean War Veterans Memorial

    Free

    Walk among 19 stainless steel soldiers on patrol beside a black granite wall etched with the faces of those who served.

    0.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Free

    A powerful journey through African American history and culture, from the slave trade galleries to Motown and beyond.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Powerful

    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

    Free

    A profound, self-guided journey through Holocaust history just off the Mall, free, with timed passes for the Permanent Exhibition.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums