麻豆APP

National Mall and Memorial ParksBy National Park Service Digital Image Archives –

Top 10 Unbelievable Facts about the National Mall

The National Mall is in the heart of America鈥檚 capital. It reminds American history through national monuments, exploration of cultures, and science.  It鈥檚 been a space where citizens have petitioned the government and hosted a lot of national events including the 4^th of July celebrations.

The mall is as old as the nation, the National Mall remains a place where people can walk and socialize. More than 26 miles of pedestrian sidewalks and eight miles of bike trails. Here are 10 unbelievable facts about the National Mall.

1. It was meant to be a grand avenue

National Mall, Washington, D.C. By Matti Blume –

George Washington commissioned Piere L鈥橢nfant to create a plan for the new capital of the United States in 1791. He designed a city with broad diagonal avenues and 4 feet wide with public walks lined with theaters and a place of general resort. However, in the 1860s the mall was nothing like he had envisioned.

In 1901 congress created the Senate Park Commission to restore L鈥橢nfant鈥檚 vision to execute the McMillian plan. They made the Washington monument the center of the mall. The plan was executed in the 1920s but abandoned in the 1930s as they feared it would tamper with the Washington monument foundation. The mall was completed in the 19^th century

2. The National Mall bags in thousands of tourists

From ranger programs and tours, recreational opportunities, and viewing some of the nation’s most iconic memorials National Mall has so much to offer. Over 25 million people visit the National Mall each year. This traffic of people surpasses the number of visitors to Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon national parks combined!

Tourists partake in popular activities including touring the museums, visiting the monuments and memorials, and taking pictures with the best views of DC.

3. It is the home to many national monuments

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. By Noclip at English Wikipedia –

The National Mall hosts some of the nation鈥檚 architectural gems. The mall has been significant to American history and its uniquely designed monuments.  There are more than 65 other monuments and memorials on the National Mall. You could visit these monuments and memorials on foot, on a bike, or on a bus tour. Some of these memorials are;

• Vietnam Women鈥檚 Memorial 鈥� the first monument on the National Mall to honour American military women
• American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial 鈥� dedicated in October 2014 to honour disabled veterans
• Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial 鈥� the National Mall鈥檚 newest memorial dedicated to the five-star general turned president who masterminded D-Day
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial – In honour of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s four terms in office
• Korean War Veterans Memorial – The Korean War Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1995, on the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the conflict
• Thomas Jefferson Memorial – Stands as a symbol of liberty
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial – It honours members of the U.S. armed forces who fought, died in service, or were listed MIA during the Vietnam War
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial – Dedicated in 2011, to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• National World War II Memorial – Honors the spirit and sacrifice of the 16 million men and women who served overseas
• Washington Monument – The world鈥檚 tallest freestanding stone structure for America鈥檚 first president.
• Lincoln Memorial 鈥� A neoclassical monument to America鈥檚 16th president.

4. The Beach Boys were banned from performing at the 4^th of July celebrations

The Beach Boys performing in 1971 at Central Park By Brother Records –

The band had played for the 4^th of July celebrations at the Washington Mall in both 1980 and 1981 and were supposed to take the stage again in 1983. However, Ronald Regan鈥檚 Secretary of the Interior, James G. Watt banned all rock concerts from playing at the National Mall.

Watt insisted that “hard rock” music “brought the wrong element,” citing that it encouraged drug and alcohol use.  Instead, he invited Las Vegas star Wayne Newton to state to the Washington Post that he provided a more ‘patriotic, family-based entertainment,’ the Post reported.

This stance caused an uproar among fans including both President Reagan and First Lady. The Reagans apologized to the band and invited them to play at the White House for the 15th-anniversary celebration of the Special Olympics.

5. The Smithsonian Museums are found here

National Museum of American History, on the National Mall in Washington, DC. By lorax –

Collectively called the Smithsonian Institution, this world鈥檚 biggest museum and research complex consists of 17 museums, galleries, and a zoo. For over 150 years, the Smithsonian Institution鈥檚 collection of world-class museums has attracted crowds of people from around the world.

Whilst visiting the museums, you鈥檒l find;

• the tattered garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry, inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the Star-Spangled Banner. In addition,
• The plane Charles Lindbergh piloted as the first person to fly nonstop from New York to 麻豆APP
• A fireside chat microphone used by Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II
• The long-sleeved, shawl-collar floral print dress that Rosa Parks was stitching when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama
• A first-generation Apple Macintosh computer
• Julia Child鈥檚 kitchen from her television show, The French Chef

6. The National Mall is famous for hosting Festivals

A grove of cherry trees on the National Mall taken during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. By Vcelloho –

Approximately 3,000 events are held on the National Mall in Washington, DC, with less than a dozen major festivals held annually. Most of the events usually Mall are sporting events, protests and rallies, and other group activities.  Some of the most popular festivals are:

• National Cherry Blossom Festival in late March or early April
• Earth Day Festival in April
• Cinco de Mayo in May
• Memorial Day in May
• Rolling Thunder Festival in May
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival in June 鈥� July
• 4^th of July Fireworks in July
• Veterans Day festival in November

7. It has hosted presidential inaugurations

The National Park Service has been at the centre of planning presidential inaugurations for more than 80 years. Most presidential inaugurations since 1801 have been held in Washington D.C. at the Capitol Building on the National Mall.

Prior inaugurations were held, at Federal Hall in New York City and then at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Presidents such as Barack Obama, George Washington, George Bush, John F Kennedy, Joseph Biden, and Donald Trump among others had their inauguration at the National Mall.

8. There鈥檚 so much to do at the National Mall

You鈥檒l find a variety of recreational things to do. You could go on electric cart tours around the monuments, memorials, and the famous reflecting pool.

From the Carousel ride to the Smithsonian Castle and Botanic Garden and the Library of Congress, the National Mall has a wide variety of things to do.

9. It has been a place of hosting many Historical Protests

Women’s March in Washington DC, USA, 2017 By Mobilus In Mobili – Wikimedia Commons

The National Mall has hosted protests since the late 1800s. From Martin Luther King, Jr鈥檚 鈥淚 Have a Dream鈥� speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to the largest protest rally at the Great Mall on October 15, 1969, against the Vietnam War. Here are some other protests that happened in the national mall:

• Women鈥檚 equal voting rights protest in March 1913
• October 1943 鈥�  400 rabbis asked the United States to take action after  millions of Jews were being killed in concentration camps during World War II
• The Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom in May 1957, advocated for the Brown v. Board of Education decision to desegregate public schools.
• in 1987 to protest discrimination against homosexuals and demand more federal money for AIDS research.

10. The mall is filled with Trees

There are more than 9,000 trees on the National Mall. some popular trees include 2,300 American elms that line the length of the mall. These trees help frame the malls and views between the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building.

The trees offer more than just colour and shade as back in the 21st century they were a means of removing air pollution. In addition, they shape the national mall making it look picturesque with the most popular being the cherry blossom that brings in a lot of visitors in spring.

There you have it! 10 unbelievable facts about the National Mall in DC.