National Mall

The 4.8 km long ceremonial axis of the American capital, stretching from the Capitol in the east to the Lincoln Memorial in the west, managed by the National Park Service. Around 24 million people a year come for the Smithsonian museums along the middle section and the memorials at the western end, which makes it one of the most visited places in the United States.

The Mall took its current form after a 1902 beautification plan replaced a much smaller mid-19th century park. Its open lawns host hundreds of events every year: presidential inaugurations (Reagan was the first to take the oath on the Mall side of the Capitol in 1981), the half-million strong Vietnam War protest of 1969, and Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration with an estimated two million people, still the largest gathering in its history.

Practical: Plan a full day, or at least six hours, to see the Capitol exterior, two or three museums and the memorials. Everything is free except the Washington Monument elevator, which requires a timed ticket. Distances are deceptive: Capitol to Lincoln Memorial is a 45 minute walk. Street parking is scarce; use a garage near L'Enfant Plaza or come by metro (Smithsonian station is at the centre of the Mall). Shade and drinking water are limited in summer.