I love the history VA has. This memorial is free and has parking. It might looked closed because of…read morethe cones. But pull forward and a security guard will let you in (during business hours). You can walk through it and read within half an hour. So I'd combine this with other things to do in the area. Like the cemetery across the street. Take some photos and learn something. That's what it's there for. God bless the USA

Beautiful memorial located inside of Arlington Cemetery and wish we could've had enough time to get…read morecloser, but we were on a speedy trip on the tour trolley to see as much as possible for a brief visit in the area. We were also fortunate to see this memorial as our plane departed from DCA at 5 PM and it was thrilling to see it from this vantage point. Love the depiction and homage to the planes in flight and missing man formation.

I've lived in the city for over fifteen years and today was the first time that I've ever been to…read morethe Navy Memorial. The park is surrounded by large office buildings and even some restaurants so it is more like a concrete jingle here. It's circular shaped with fountains for sets of cascading waterfalls that are the backdrop to the actual circle. There are also some flagpoles in the shape of a ship's mast and that is a cool feature. What's also interesting are the placards that indicate the various services for the Navy y like the Construction Batallions, and the Mavy's Supply Corps. The Naval Special Warfare unit also had its own placard. It's an interesting memorial and I learned a clue things about the U.S Navy today.

Beautiful memorial for our United States Navy. We wouldn't have made it here if we hadn't been…read moremeeting our tour here. It's definitely a beautiful and meaningful place to visit. The memorial does a wonderful job honoring the men and women who have served in the U.S. Navy, and the surrounding plaza is impressive and well maintained. It's near and dear to my heart as my grandfather served in the Navy. It's convenient location makes it easy to include while exploring downtown D.C. The atmosphere is respectful and peaceful, giving you a chance to reflect and appreciate the sacrifices made by those who served.

Pretty cool that you can practically see this monument from anywhere in DC. It's placed on the…read morehighest point in the city. While we were in town, we visited it on our own and also got to see it during our DC at dusk tour. For the 250th, they were projecting a movie about the history of America. It was quite a sight to see! You can walk right up to this monument and even touch it. There was a tour and exhibit, but we didn't take part in it. It's still a sight that should not be missed when in DC!

Seeing the Washington Monument for the first time is one of those "wow" moments you have once in a…read morelifetime. It's so much taller than it looks in photos, and standing right at the base, you really feel how massive and iconic it is! Till now, I've only seen pictures, and they don't do it justice! This was so cool!

Happy Independence Day (aka 4th of July), 2026! This is such an exciting day...our 250-year…read moreanniversary of being an independent country! I have some wonderful memories of every 4th of July experience, ever since I was a small boy. I remember growing up in the Los Angeles area and setting off fireworks every 4th of July (before they became illegal in the area). As one should be, my father was always focused on all our safety, as well as the safety of our community. As a result, I remember him strategically placing a trash barrel along side the street, half-filled with water, to place the fireworks in after we verified that they were completely extinguished. We were also required, by my father, to carefully light all fireworks in the middle of the street, with our residential street being closed-off to traffic. We always celebrated with lots of extended family members and friends, and there was always a ton of delicious food, all night. Those were fun days. When I was in elementary school, I remember learning what the 4th of July really meant, and that it wasn't only about the fireworks. It was at this time that I first learned about the history of our country, including our Declaration of Independence. Our Declaration of Independence was primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, who would later become our 3rd President. Within a few days of its completion it was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776, and then signed shortly thereafter by these 56 brave men. Our Declaration of Independence is a surprisingly short document given that it is a symbol for the creation of an independent country. Within this beautifully constructed document, it articulates (politically, morally, and legally) why our founding fathers were identifying the United States (then only 13 colonies) as an independent country, no longer subject to British colonial rule. The 56 signers on our Declaration of Independence were brave indeed, because they knew that the creation of this document was considered an act of high treason against The Crown, which was punishable by torture and death. Although I learned about our Declaration of Independence as a young boy, I was not able to read it and comprehend it until I was a young man. Since this document is as important as it is, and it is as short as it is, it surprises me that most U.S. citizens have NOT even read this document. Therefore, I have posted this within this review, for you to read (it can also be found online, at www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration ). To me, the Declaration of Independence reveals that our founding fathers were trying to create a new and a better country -- a country no longer controlled by a tyrant or a king, and certainly not controlled by a dictator. Our founding fathers wanted to create a democracy -- a government for the people, by the people. This was later clearly defined in our United States Constitution, where no one individual had complete control, and the power of this country was divided between three branches of our government. What is exceedingly clear when I read our Declaration of Independence is that a good percentage of this document focuses on the many abuses that the king of Britain committed while ruling over our people, before this time. The king is clearly identified as a tyrant in our Declaration of Independence, and we therefore abolished this relationship with a toxic leader. When reading this document today, in 2026, it is easy to see that many similar abuses are currently being committed against Americans, and that one branch of government is abusing its power in an attempt to dominate over the other two branches of our government. This is incredibly concerning to me, but I digress. I was able to visit this memorial to the 56 signers of our Declaration of Independence for the first time in my life this year. This memorial was conceived as a gift from the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration in 1976, authorized in 1978, and dedicated in 1984. It is located in the Constitution Gardens on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on the north side of the Reflecting Pool. Entry to the memorial is made by crossing a small wooden bridge to a small island surrounded by Carp Pond. The memorial includes 56 memorial stones, each inscribed with the delegate's actual signature, along with their printed name and occupation, and each is grouped by their place of residence. If you are in the Washington, D.C. area, I highly encourage you to make this one of the places you visit. While you are here, it will be an excellent opportunity for you to pay your respects to 56 of our founding fathers for their bravery in helping to define the beautiful country we love. Even today, we must dedicate ourselves to protecting this country from any ruler attempting to deviate from the beautiful vision our founding fathers had in 1776.

This is a smaller monument that's just north of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in the…read moreNational Mall. It's located on an island surrounded by the Constitution Gardens. The names of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence are engraved here. Along with their signatures each of their occupations were listed. They ranged from lawyers to merchants to politicians to planters and included names like John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Adams.

The bridge connects the monuments & the title basin with the entrance to Arlington National…read moreCemetery. From the bridge we had a view of the Kennedy Center, Washington Monument, Lincoln monument. There wasn't much to see & the walk wasn't worth the sights that were here.

If there is one bridge I abhor in the DC area it is this bridge. This bridge, regardless of how I…read moreapproach it, I always end up lost and confused. I really wish that there would be better makers to allow drivers to know which lane they need to be in before they end up on a highway in Virginia. I find driving to be a relaxing activity, but when I near this bridge my anxiety goes through the roof. Back to what I said about the lanes, no matter which lane I am in, I'm always in the wrong lane. Instead of being a typical DC driver and nearly cause an accident, I just keep going with the lane. I'm not going to detract from the beauty of the bridge, because it is beautiful. Depending on the way that you approaching it, you will be brought to areas that are equally beautiful scenes. Going towards Virginia you will end up in Arlington National Cemetery (if you are in the right lane). If you go towards DC you will end up in the National Mall area, Lincoln Memorial end. If you are fortunate to find a parking space in the National Mall area, you are able to walk freely about. But if it was not for the unfortunate traffic inducing bridge, I will not ever get used to this bridge. Please put better markings so I know where I am going.

We were taking a walk on the Wharf and came unexpectedly to the Titanic Memorial. I used to read…read moreeverything about the Titanic but I was not aware that this memorial was here, dedicated to the men who sacrificed themselves so the women and children of the Titanic would be saved. Just 10 days after the sinking, a group of women formed a committee to raise money for a memorial. This is a quiet corner of DC (the memorial was moved for the Kennedy Center), and a beautiful tribute.

The Titanic Memorial was organized by influential women of the United States to honor the men who…read moregave their lives by giving up their opportunity for seats on lifeboats to women and children aboard the RMS Titanic that sank after collision with an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912. 531 women and children were on board that day, 70% of which were rescued compared to only 20% of men. If you've seen the 1997 movie entitled 'Titanic," starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet then you can better understand the cost paid by many men to preserve the lives of many women and children on board the vessel that day. The memorial is located at the far end of The Wharf between the marina and U.S. Army post, Fort McNair. A true concrete park, the grounds has benches and when the weather is nice, it is a place for strollers, joggers, dog walkers, and picnic goers. This area also entertains people migrating from the marina and The Wharf. You'll often find locals pass through here as the memorial is adjacent to multiple mid- and high-rise housing units. The area isn't the most pristine, however, it is a great place to hang out during great weather as it is along the waterfront and is slightly shaded by trees. Historical Fact: this isn't the memorial's original location. The statue once stood at the current site of The Kennedy Center in Northwest DC. When The Kennedy Center was constructed in the 60s, the statue was removed and eventually relocated to its current home on the Southwest Waterfront. I believe the memorial is due for another relocation as it doesn't seem fitting in its current spot and is overshadowed by the commercial development on the Southwest Waterfront.

Nellies Needler annual show , 600 entries here are just a few I liked. $20 entry which goes to…read moresustaining the show

Very hot day made for a great uncrowded tour through this local gem. Autumn was an excellent guide,…read moreproviding much information. As locals we had not been here before and were delighted to discover such an amazing piece of history. New appreciation for indigenous and slave families who lived on this property. So glad new facts are emerging on a regular basis. Good work demonstrated by GMU students!

I visited a lot of law enforcement museums, and this is the best one I have ever been so far. This…read moreis not a free museum, but it worth the money you spent. They offers law enforcement and student discount tickets. Security and staff were very friendly. My favorite were the use of force demonstration and driving stimulator that visitors can experiences how police officers handle certain situations. There was an instructor, who had 30+ years experience coaching us throughout the experience. I enjoyed that a lot. I will come back again if I happened to be in town.

This is a low-key memorial that is dedicated to the brave men and women of law enforcement who have…read moremade the ultimate sacrifice. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance. It is right across the street from the Law Enforcement Museum and the DC Court of Appeals. On the other side of the memorial, you will find the Building Museum. The memorial was designed by architect Davis Buckley and dedicated on October 15, 1991. It sits on three acres of federal park land. It has a water feature. However, it was dry during my visit. I looked like they were doing some maintenance on it. The Memorial also features two curving limestone walls along its perimeter, each over 300 feet long, with the names of more than 24,000 officers who died in the line of duty etched on them. The walls are a part of the memorial, along with a line of trees, called "pathways of remembrance". You will find a pathway on each side of the memorial, and each entrance is marked by a powerful statuary grouping of an adult lion protecting its cubs. The sculptures are the work of Raymond Kaskey. They symbolize the protective role of law enforcement officers and convey the strength, courage, and valor that are hallmarks of those who serve and protect. The people being honored date back to the first known death in 1786. The memorial is ever-changing. New names of fallen officers are added to it each spring, in conjunction with National Police Week. I did not see much seating at the memorial, but this place is not a park. It is meant to honor. It does have a peaceful effect, even with the Metro elevator right in the middle. This is not a destination spot, but it is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.