Attraction
National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian's flagship aviation and space museum on the National Mall, home to the Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis and the Apollo 11 command…
Lincoln Memorial
The colonnaded marble memorial to Abraham Lincoln at the west end of the National Mall, with a 19-foot seated statue and views along the Reflecting Pool.
At a glance
- Type
- Memorial
- Area
- National Mall, Washington DC, United States
- Official site
- nps.gov
Good to know
- Free entry
- Open 24 hours
- Undercroft museum (tickets required)
Why we recommend it
The Lincoln Memorial closes the western end of the National Mall and is one of the clearest symbols of Washington. Work began in 1914 and the memorial was dedicated on 30 May 1922. It was designed by the architect Henry Bacon in the form of a Greek temple, with 36 Doric columns that represent the states of the Union at the time of Lincoln's death.
Inside, Daniel Chester French's statue shows Lincoln seated, carved in Georgia white marble by the Piccirilli brothers and standing 19 feet high. The texts of the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's second inaugural address are carved into the walls of the side chambers, and murals by Jules Guérin run above them. Take time to read the inscriptions, as most visitors look at the statue and leave.
The steps matter as much as the chamber. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech here on 28 August 1963, and the spot where he stood, on the landing below the statue, has been engraved since 2003. From the top of the steps you look east along the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument and the Capitol beyond, which is the view most people come for.
The memorial is free and open around the clock. Early morning and late evening are usually the calmest times to visit. A newer museum in the undercroft beneath the memorial opened in June 2026. The National Park Service says tickets are required for it, so book ahead if you want to see it as well as the chamber, which remains free.
The memorial suits everyone, from families with young children to first-time visitors on a monuments walk. Twenty to thirty minutes is enough for the chamber and steps, longer if you add the undercroft. There is a lot of walking between monuments on the Mall, so wear comfortable shoes and carry water in summer.
The Tidal Basin and its memorials are a short walk to the south-east, and the Washington Monument is at the other end of the Reflecting Pool. Many visitors walk the length of the Mall from the Capitol to here in one long afternoon; a taxi or ride share back saves tired legs.
Lincoln Memorial FAQs
Is the Lincoln Memorial free?
Yes. The memorial chamber and steps are free to visit.
When is the Lincoln Memorial open?
The memorial itself is open around the clock, which makes early mornings and evenings good times to visit.
What is in the undercroft?
A museum beneath the memorial opened in June 2026. Tickets are required for it.
Where did Martin Luther King Jr. give his speech?
On the steps. The spot on the landing below the statue where he stood on 28 August 1963 is engraved.
How tall is the statue?
Daniel Chester French's seated Lincoln is 19 feet high and carved from Georgia white marble.
How long should I allow?
Around 20 to 30 minutes for the chamber and steps, more if you visit the undercroft.
What is nearby?
The Reflecting Pool, the Washington Monument at its far end, and the Tidal Basin.
Who looks after the memorial?
The National Park Service, as part of National Mall and Memorial Parks.