DC Monuments: Small Groups, Big Ideas Walking Tour｜United States

Don't think a tour should be a huge list of dates? Me neither!

On this interactive walking tour, we will explore some of DC’s most iconic monuments on the National Mall, learning about both the people they honor and the people who made them. We will talk as a group about why we have them and what they mean to you.

We will see:
1. The Washington Monument
The tour will begin with the Washington Monument, which is dedicated to the United States’ first president, George Washington. We will view and discuss the monument from a distance. If you wish to see the monument up close, I recommend you do so before the tour.

2. The National World War II Memorial
The World War II Memorial honors the service of the 16 million Service Members who were part of the U.S. Armed Forces, the support of millions on the home front, and the 405,399 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

3. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veteran Memorial is made up of three separate parts: the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial (The Wall). While here, we will talk about how the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was created and how it is used today to honor those who died during the war.

4. The Korean War Veterans Memorial
The Korean War Veterans Memorial honors the sacrifices of the millions of Americans and allied partners who fought during the Korean War with a moving Wall of Remembrance and 19 service men statues.

5. The Lincoln Memorial
We will end our tour at the Lincoln Memorial, which is dedicated to the nation’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, who led the country during the American Civil War and was crucial to ending slavery.

Come prepared to walk about a mile (1.6km). There will be benches, but not at every stop. A water bottle is recommended. Most importantly, bring your curiosity (and your camera!).

So, who am I?
I’m glad you asked! My name is Shelley and I adore talking about people, especially the ones that lived in the past. I started my career as a ranger with the National Park Service – you know, those people with the funny hats. You could have met me at The Frederick Douglass House, Cape Cod National Seashore, or The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal during my seven years of service. I have a Master's in museum studies and a Bachelors in anthropology and linguistics. I hope you join us and I’m excited to meet you!