Quick Facts
- Dedicated: 1922
- Statue: Daniel Chester French, 19 ft (5.8 m) tall
- Columns: 36, one for each state at the time of Lincoln's death
- Steps: 58 to the main landing, 87 to the statue
- Annual visitors: around 7-8 million
- Entry: free, 24/7, no tickets
🧮
USA Trip Cost Calculator
Planning your DC trip? The memorials are free — but get a full budget estimate for hotels, meals and tours with our calculator.
Best Time to Visit
| Time | Atmosphere | Crowds | Photo quality |
|---|
| Sunrise (6-7am) | Quiet, reverent | Near-empty | Excellent |
| Mid-morning (9-11am) | Busy | High | OK |
| Midday | Hot, bright | Peak | Poor |
| Sunset | Dramatic golden light | Moderate | Best |
| Night (after 9pm) | Magical, lit columns | Low | Excellent long exposure |
| Midnight | Eerily peaceful | Near-empty | Tripod needed |
Visiting at night is the single best move. The memorial is floodlit, the Reflecting Pool mirrors the Washington Monument, and you often have the place almost to yourself. Safe — park police patrol regularly.
The MLK Speech Steps
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered "I Have a Dream" to 250,000 people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In 2003, the exact spot was marked with a simple engraving in the marble landing 18 steps below the statue.
Find it by climbing to the main landing where the columns begin, then looking down at the marble underfoot. The engraving reads: "I HAVE A DREAM | MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. | THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON | FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM | AUGUST 28, 1963."
The acoustics from that spot are remarkable — stand there and speak normally, and your voice projects down across the Reflecting Pool.
The Reflecting Pool
2,028 feet long, 160 feet wide, only 30 inches deep. Reflects the Washington Monument to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. Rebuilt 2010-2012 with a new circulation system.
- Best reflection of the Washington Monument: early morning or dusk, no wind
- Walking paths on both sides — 20 min to traverse
- Benches along the north side
- Often home to ducks, herons and cherry blossom petals in April
- No swimming, wading, or dogs in the water
National Mall Walking Route
The Lincoln Memorial anchors the western end of the National Mall. A natural 2-hour loop links five war memorials and the Reflecting Pool.
- 1. Lincoln Memorial — start here, climb the steps, find the MLK marker
- 2. Korean War Veterans Memorial (south side) — 19 stainless steel figures, recently updated with a wall of names
- 3. Vietnam Veterans Memorial (north side) — Maya Lin's black granite wall with 58,318 names
- 4. Constitution Gardens — small lake and Signers of the Declaration memorial
- 5. WWII Memorial — 56 pillars (states + territories), Atlantic and Pacific arches
- 6. Washington Monument — tallest obelisk in the world, free timed-entry passes for the elevator
- 7. MLK Memorial (10 min detour south to Tidal Basin) — Stone of Hope statue
- 8. Jefferson Memorial (south side of Tidal Basin) — domed rotunda, best at cherry blossom
The full loop is around 3 miles (5 km) with no major elevation. Allow 2.5 hours with photo stops, 4 hours with a meal.
Getting There & Parking
| Option | Cost | Time from downtown |
|---|
| Metro (Foggy Bottom) | $2.25 | 15 min walk to memorial |
| DC Circulator (National Mall route) | $1 | 10 min ride, hop-on |
| Free parking Ohio Drive SW | $0 | 3hr limit, fills by 9am |
| Metered street | $2/hr | 15 min walk |
| Union Station garage | $25/day | 1.5 mile walk or metro |
| Rideshare | $10-20 | Drops at 23rd & Constitution |
Do not park in the Kennedy Center or Watergate garages "for a quick visit" — they charge flat $30-40 rates even for 30 minutes.
Photo Tips
- Classic shot: statue framed by columns, from the main landing — shoot HDR or bracket exposures, the statue is dim compared to daylight outside
- Reflecting Pool long shot: stand at the east end of the pool, Washington Monument behind you, Lincoln straight ahead
- MLK speech view: stand at the marker, shoot east down the Mall — what MLK saw
- Night shot: tripod needed, 10-20 sec exposure, ISO 400, f/8
- Cherry blossom framing: late March - early April, walk 10 min south to the Tidal Basin
- Avoid: midday summer — harsh shadows hide Lincoln's face completely
Accessibility
The memorial looks like a wall of steps, but is fully accessible.
- Elevator on the south side — press the button or ask a ranger
- Ramp entrances on both north and south sides
- Wheelchair-accessible restrooms near the base
- Assistive listening devices at the ranger station
- Companion-animal-friendly (service dogs) — pets not allowed
Free 30-minute ranger talks run daily at Lincoln from 10am to 10pm. Check the schedule posted at the base — they cover the construction, the MLK speech, and Lincoln's words carved inside the chamber.
Quick Facts
- Dedicated: 1922
- Statue: Daniel Chester French, 19 ft (5.8 m) tall
- Columns: 36, one for each state at the time of Lincoln's death
- Steps: 58 to the main landing, 87 to the statue
- Annual visitors: around 7-8 million
- Entry: free, 24/7, no tickets
🧮
USA Trip Cost Calculator
Planning your DC trip? The memorials are free — but get a full budget estimate for hotels, meals and tours with our calculator.
Best Time to Visit
| Time | Atmosphere | Crowds | Photo quality |
|---|
| Sunrise (6-7am) | Quiet, reverent | Near-empty | Excellent |
| Mid-morning (9-11am) | Busy | High | OK |
| Midday | Hot, bright | Peak | Poor |
| Sunset | Dramatic golden light | Moderate | Best |
| Night (after 9pm) | Magical, lit columns | Low | Excellent long exposure |
| Midnight | Eerily peaceful | Near-empty | Tripod needed |
Visiting at night is the single best move. The memorial is floodlit, the Reflecting Pool mirrors the Washington Monument, and you often have the place almost to yourself. Safe — park police patrol regularly.
The MLK Speech Steps
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered "I Have a Dream" to 250,000 people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In 2003, the exact spot was marked with a simple engraving in the marble landing 18 steps below the statue.
Find it by climbing to the main landing where the columns begin, then looking down at the marble underfoot. The engraving reads: "I HAVE A DREAM | MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. | THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON | FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM | AUGUST 28, 1963."
The acoustics from that spot are remarkable — stand there and speak normally, and your voice projects down across the Reflecting Pool.
The Reflecting Pool
2,028 feet long, 160 feet wide, only 30 inches deep. Reflects the Washington Monument to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. Rebuilt 2010-2012 with a new circulation system.
- Best reflection of the Washington Monument: early morning or dusk, no wind
- Walking paths on both sides — 20 min to traverse
- Benches along the north side
- Often home to ducks, herons and cherry blossom petals in April
- No swimming, wading, or dogs in the water
National Mall Walking Route
The Lincoln Memorial anchors the western end of the National Mall. A natural 2-hour loop links five war memorials and the Reflecting Pool.
- 1. Lincoln Memorial — start here, climb the steps, find the MLK marker
- 2. Korean War Veterans Memorial (south side) — 19 stainless steel figures, recently updated with a wall of names
- 3. Vietnam Veterans Memorial (north side) — Maya Lin's black granite wall with 58,318 names
- 4. Constitution Gardens — small lake and Signers of the Declaration memorial
- 5. WWII Memorial — 56 pillars (states + territories), Atlantic and Pacific arches
- 6. Washington Monument — tallest obelisk in the world, free timed-entry passes for the elevator
- 7. MLK Memorial (10 min detour south to Tidal Basin) — Stone of Hope statue
- 8. Jefferson Memorial (south side of Tidal Basin) — domed rotunda, best at cherry blossom
The full loop is around 3 miles (5 km) with no major elevation. Allow 2.5 hours with photo stops, 4 hours with a meal.
Getting There & Parking
| Option | Cost | Time from downtown |
|---|
| Metro (Foggy Bottom) | $2.25 | 15 min walk to memorial |
| DC Circulator (National Mall route) | $1 | 10 min ride, hop-on |
| Free parking Ohio Drive SW | $0 | 3hr limit, fills by 9am |
| Metered street | $2/hr | 15 min walk |
| Union Station garage | $25/day | 1.5 mile walk or metro |
| Rideshare | $10-20 | Drops at 23rd & Constitution |
Do not park in the Kennedy Center or Watergate garages "for a quick visit" — they charge flat $30-40 rates even for 30 minutes.
Photo Tips
- Classic shot: statue framed by columns, from the main landing — shoot HDR or bracket exposures, the statue is dim compared to daylight outside
- Reflecting Pool long shot: stand at the east end of the pool, Washington Monument behind you, Lincoln straight ahead
- MLK speech view: stand at the marker, shoot east down the Mall — what MLK saw
- Night shot: tripod needed, 10-20 sec exposure, ISO 400, f/8
- Cherry blossom framing: late March - early April, walk 10 min south to the Tidal Basin
- Avoid: midday summer — harsh shadows hide Lincoln's face completely
Accessibility
The memorial looks like a wall of steps, but is fully accessible.
- Elevator on the south side — press the button or ask a ranger
- Ramp entrances on both north and south sides
- Wheelchair-accessible restrooms near the base
- Assistive listening devices at the ranger station
- Companion-animal-friendly (service dogs) — pets not allowed
Free 30-minute ranger talks run daily at Lincoln from 10am to 10pm. Check the schedule posted at the base — they cover the construction, the MLK speech, and Lincoln's words carved inside the chamber.