A poignant reminder of our nations past
African American Civil War Memorial
Over 200,000 African-American soldiers and sailors served in the U.S. Army and Navy during the Civil War. Their service helped to end the war and free over four million slaves. The African American Civil War Memorial honors their service and sacrific
Anacostia Drive and the Anacostia river Trail run along side the Anacostia river. Views of the Navy Yard and Nats. Stadium can be seen as across the river.
Anacostia
Welcome to Anacostia Park, your neighborhood national park in the heart of Washington, DC! Enjoy exercise along the river trail or relax by the water, Anacostia Park is a breath of fresh air and a space to unwind amid a bustling city.
411th Unit of the National Park Service
Belmont-Paul Women's Equality
Home to the National Woman's Party for more than 90 years, this was the epicenter of the struggle for women's rights. From this house in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court, Alice Paul and the NWP developed innovative strategies and tact
Emancipation Group Memorial Statue
Capitol Hill Parks
The Capitol Hill Parks include several park areas east of the U.S. Capitol. Included in this group are Folger, Lincoln, Stanton, and Marion Parks, the Eastern Market and Potomac Avenue Metro stations, and several smaller land parcels such as Seward S
Many people visit Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to spot birds, like this heron, that rely the natural resources of the landscape.
Captain John Smith Chesapeake
People first arrived in the Chesapeake Bay during the last ice age. As glaciers melted, diverse societies learned to thrive in a world of water. When Englishman Captain John Smith explored the Bay in 1608, he documented hundreds of American Indian co
The view from across the street of the facades of the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site.
Carter G. Woodson Home
Before Dr. Carter G. Woodson, there was very little accurate written history about the lives and experiences of Americans of African descent. Today a National Historic Site, Dr. Woodson’s home served as the headquarters for the Association for the St
The area of Great Falls is one of the reasons for the C&O Canal needed to be built for boat traffic.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products
Cape Charles on Virginia's lower Eastern Shore is a bayside gem with many opportunities for visitors to enjoy the water.
Chesapeake Bay
Over 41 million acres are connected through the waters that flow to and through Chesapeake Bay. The National Park Service strives to connect people to the opportunities and adventures throughout the watershed. Inspiring stewardship across this vast r
Fort Davis (Fall Day)
Civil War Defenses of Washington
On forested hills surrounding the nation's capital are the remnants of a complex system of Civil War fortifications. These strategic buttresses transformed the young capital into one of the world's most fortified cities. By 1865, 68 forts and 93 batt
A quiet spot in the midst of the Nations Capital
Constitution Gardens
Officially established in 1965, National Mall and Memorial Parks actually protects some of the older parkland in the National Park System. Areas within this premier park provide visitors with ample opportunities to commemorate presidential legacies;
Entrance to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
Dwight D. Eisenhower
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial tells the story of one of America's greatest leaders of the 20th century.
Where a nations destiny was met.
Ford's Theatre
April 14, 1865. President Lincoln is assassinated at Ford’s Theatre. Discover how a nation handled grief and loss, how everyday people experienced a national tragedy, and how we have remembered a fallen leader. Today, in partnership with Ford’s Theat
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Fort Dupont Park
This 361 acre wooded park was once home to an earthen fort built to protect Washington, DC, during the Civil War. Today, visitors can see the fort's earthworks and escape to the great outdoors. Activities include picnics, nature walks, biking, garden
From Adversity to Presidency
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
These words by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ushered the United States into World War II and defined what it is to be an American. Stop by this secluded memorial and begin to understand the Roosevelt legacy.
Rangers guide daily tours of the historic house at scheduled times.
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass spent his life fighting for justice and equality. Born into slavery in 1818, he escaped as a young man and became a leading voice in the abolitionist movement. People everywhere still find inspiration today in his tireless struggle
George Washington Memorial Parkway
George Washington
The George Washington Memorial Parkway was designed for recreational driving. It links sites that commemorate important episodes in American history and preserve habitat for local wildlife. The parkway and its associated trails provide a scenic place
Lotus flowers bloom in many ponds during the hot humid summer months.
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Deep within Kenilworth lies an oasis, hidden behind trees and cattails. It's a place where beavers build their homes and turtles sleep on logs. Lotus blooms rise from the muck and lilies sit on the water. The wind dances with the dragonflies, rustlin
Sun Rises over the statues of the Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
At the Korean War Veterans Memorial, "Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met."
The Memorial mirrors the Washington Monument across the River in Washington D.C.
LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac
From this distance the seat of national power appears pristine across the river, so President Johnson came here often when he needed to escape from the stresses of building a Great Society. After he died, his wife chose this place for his memorial. A
One of the most photographed memorials, no matter the hour.
Lincoln Memorial
"...as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." Beneath these words, the 16th president of the United States sits immortalized in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength, an
Statue of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Located in downtown Washington, DC, the memorial honors Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy and the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice. A prominent leader in the modern civil rights movement, Dr. King was a tireless advocate for racial equality
Bethune Council House in Spring time full bloom!
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House
Mary McLeod Bethune achieved her greatest recognition at the Washington, DC townhouse that is now this National Historic Site. The Council House was the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and was Bethune’s last home in W
The Barnyard at Oxon Hill Farm
National Capital Parks-East
Welcome to National Capital Parks-East. We invite you to journey to the parks east of the Capitol of Washington, D.C. National Capital Parks-East consists of 14 park sites, parkways and statuary covering more than 8,000 acres of historic, cultural, a
Honoring our Nation
National Mall and Memorial Parks
This is where the nation comes to remember and where history is made. As “America’s Front Yard,” the National Mall and Memorial Parks is home to many of our country’s most iconic memorials telling the story of people and events that shaped us as a na
Police motorcycles pass in formation during the 2013 inaugural parade.
Pennsylvania Avenue
A street unlike any other. It is known the world over as the heart of the Nation's Capital. America's history has marched, paraded, promenaded, and protested its way along the Avenue.
Monroe Run Trailhead, Garrett County
Potomac Heritage
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
Boulder Bridge in Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek
Rock Creek Park is truly a gem in our nation's capital. This 1,754 acre city park was officially authorized in 1890, making it the third national park to be designated by the federal government. It offers visitors the opportunity to escape the bustle
The PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II is a sailing ambassador for the Trail.
Star-Spangled Banner
For three years the young United States was embroiled in the War of 1812 and the Chesapeake Bay region felt the brunt of it, choked by shipping blockades and ravaged by enemy raids. Through sites and landscapes in Virginia, the District of Columbia,
The White House and South Lawn
The White House and President's Park
Every president except George Washington has called the White House home and has run the executive branch of the United States government from within its walls. Recognizable around the world, the White House stands as a symbol of democracy. The White
Theodore Roosevelt memorial plaza on Theodore Roosevelt Island.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
In the 1930s, landscape architects transformed Mason’s Island from neglected, overgrown farmland into Theodore Roosevelt Island, a memorial to America’s 26th president. They conceived a “real forest” designed to mimic the natural forest that once cov
Reflections of the past
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Author of the Declaration of Independence, statesman and visionary for the founding of a nation.
Visiting after dark completely changes the character of the memorial.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Honoring the men and women who served in the controversial Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial chronologically lists the names of 58,318 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country.
The Monument stands against the backdrop of night
Washington Monument
Built to honor George Washington, the United States' first president, the 555-foot marble obelisk towers over Washington, D.C.
Washington-Rochambeau NHT banner on 2nd Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
In 1781, General Rochambeau’s French Army joined forces with General Washington’s Continental Army to fight the British Army in Yorktown, Virginia. With the French Navy in support, the allied armies moved hundreds of miles to become the largest troop
Image of the General Pershing Statue within the Memorial
World War I Memorial
A grateful nation honors the service, valor, courage and sacrifice of the 4.7 million American sons and daughters who served in the Great War.
Paying honor to those that paid the ultimate price.
World War II Memorial
Through stone architecture and bronze sculptures, the World War II Memorial recognizes the ways Americans served, honors those who fell, and recognizes the victory they achieved to restore freedom and end tyranny around the globe.