District of Columbia - National Park Service

Washington, DC. Over 200,000 African-American soldiers and sailors served in the U.S. Army and Navy during the Civil War. Their service helped to end the war ... SkiptoglobalNPSnavigation Skiptoparknavigation Skiptomaincontent Skiptoparkinformation Skiptofooter NationalParkServiceLogo NationalParkService Search ThisSite AllNPS Search Open Menu × ContactUs DistrictofColumbia Parks AfricanAmericanCivilWarMemorial Washington,DC Over200,000African-AmericansoldiersandsailorsservedintheU.S.ArmyandNavyduringtheCivilWar.Theirservicehelpedtoendthewarandfreeoverfourmillionslaves.TheAfricanAmericanCivilWarMemorialhonorstheirserviceandsacrifice. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» Park Anacostia Washington,DC WelcometoAnacostiaPark,yourneighborhoodnationalparkintheheartofWashington,DC! Enjoyexercisealongtherivertrailorrelaxbythewater,AnacostiaParkisabreathoffreshairandaspacetounwindamidabustlingcity. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» NationalMonument Belmont-PaulWomen'sEquality Washington,DC HometotheNationalWoman'sPartyformorethan90years,thiswastheepicenterofthestruggleforwomen'srights.FromthishouseintheshadowoftheU.S.CapitolandSupremeCourt,AlicePaulandtheNWPdevelopedinnovativestrategiesandtacticstoadvocatefortheEqualRightsAmendmentandequalityforwomen.PresidentBarackObamadesignatedthenationalmonumentonApril12,2016. BasicInformation» Alerts&Conditions» Calendar» Maps» CapitolHillParks Washington,DC TheCapitolHillParksincludeseveralparkareaseastoftheU.S.Capitol.IncludedinthisgroupareFolger,Lincoln,Stanton,andMarionParks,theEasternMarketandPotomacAvenueMetrostations,andseveralsmallerlandparcelssuchasSewardSquare,TwiningSquare,theMarylandAvenueTriangles,thePennsylvaniaAvenueMedians,and59inner-citytrianglesandsquares. BasicInformation» Calendar» CurrentConditions» Maps» NationalHistoricTrail CaptainJohnSmithChesapeake VariousStatesVA,MD,DE,DC,PA,NY PeoplefirstarrivedintheChesapeakeBayduringthelasticeage.Asglaciersmelted,diversesocietieslearnedtothriveinaworldofwater.WhenEnglishmanCaptainJohnSmithexploredtheBayin1608,hedocumentedhundredsofAmericanIndiancommunities.Today,sitesonhismaparearcheologicaltreasuresandsacredsitesfortribalcitizens.ComejoinusontheshoresoftheChesapeakeBay! Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» NationalHistoricSite CarterG.WoodsonHome Washington,DC BeforeDr.CarterG.Woodson,therewasverylittleaccuratewrittenhistoryaboutthelivesandexperiencesofAmericansofAfricandescent.TodayaNationalHistoricSite,Dr.Woodson’shomeservedastheheadquartersfortheAssociationfortheStudyofAfricanAmericanLifeandHistory.Dr.WoodsonestablishedNegroHistoryWeekherein1926,whichwecelebratetodayasBlackHistoryMonth. BasicInformation» Calendar» CurrentConditions» Maps» NationalHistoricalPark Chesapeake&OhioCanal PotomacRiver,DC,MD,WV PreservingAmerica'searlytransportationhistory,theC&OCanalbeganasadreamofpassagetoWesternwealth.Operatingfornearly100yearsthecanalwasalifelineforcommunitiesalongthePotomacRiverascoal,lumber,andagriculturalproductsfloateddownthewaterwaytomarket.Todayitenduresasapathwayfordiscoveringhistorical,natural,andrecreationaltreasures. BasicInformation» Calendar» CurrentParkConditions» Maps» ChesapeakeBay ChesapeakeBayWatershed,DC,DE,MD,NY,PA,VA,WV NPShelpsyoulearnaboutandenjoytheChesapeakeBay,thelargestestuaryinNorthAmerica. Here,youcanvisitmajorleaguecities,colonialtowns,AmericanIndianlandscapes,farmsandfishingvillages.Youcanlearntokayak,pickcrabs,gofishing,touralighthouse,slurpoysters,andslowdowntoenjoythenaturalbeautyoftheChesapeake. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» CivilWarDefensesofWashington Washington,DC,MD,VA Onforestedhillssurroundingthenation'scapitalaretheremnantsofacomplexsystemofCivilWarfortifications.Thesestrategicbuttressestransformedtheyoungcapitalintooneoftheworld'smostfortifiedcities.By1865,68fortsand93batteriesarmedwithover800cannonsencircledWashington,DC.Today,youcanvisit17oftheoriginalsitesnowmanagedbytheNationalParkService. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» ConstitutionGardens Washington,DC Officiallyestablishedin1965,NationalMall andMemorialParksactuallyprotects someoftheolderparklandintheNationalParkSystem. Areaswithin thispremierpark providevisitorswithampleopportunitiestocommemoratepresidentiallegacies;honorthecourageandsacrificeofwarveterans;andcelebratetheUnitedStatescommitmenttofreedomandequality. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» Memorial DwightD.Eisenhower DC TheDwightD.EisenhowerMemorialtellsthestoryofoneofAmerica'sgreatestleadersofthe20thcentury. BasicInformation» Calendar» CurrentConditions» Maps» Ford'sTheatre Washington,DC April14,1865.PresidentLincolnisassassinatedatFord’sTheatre.Discoverhowanationhandledgriefandloss,howeverydaypeopleexperiencedanationaltragedy,andhowwehaverememberedafallenleader.Today,inpartnershipwithFord’sTheatreSociety,livedramaticproductionshighlightLincoln’sloveofthetheatre,andthepowerofstoriestoconnectustoourselvesandourhistory. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» FortDupontPark Washington,DC This376acrewoodedparkwasoncehometoanearthenfortbuilttoprotectWashington,DC,duringtheCivilWar.Today,visitorscanseethefort'searthworksandescapetothegreatoutdoors.Activitiesincludepicnics,naturewalks,biking,gardening,environmentaleducation,music,andranger-ledprograms. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» FranklinDelanoRooseveltMemorial Washington,DC ThesewordsbyPresidentFranklinDelanoRooseveltusheredtheUnitedStatesintoWorldWarIIanddefinedwhatitistobeanAmerican.StopbythissecludedmemorialandbegintounderstandtheRooseveltlegacy. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» NationalHistoricSite FrederickDouglass Washington,DC FrederickDouglassspenthislifefightingforjusticeandequality.Bornintoslaveryin1818,heescapedasayoungmanandbecamealeadingvoiceintheabolitionistmovement.Peopleeverywherestillfindinspirationtodayinhistirelessstruggle,brilliantwords,andinclusivevisionofhumanity.Douglass'slegacyispreservedhereatCedarHill,wherehelivedhislast17years. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» MemorialParkway GeorgeWashington DC,MD,VA TheGeorgeWashingtonMemorialParkwaywasdesignedforrecreationaldriving.ItlinkssitesthatcommemorateimportantepisodesinAmericanhistoryandpreservehabitatforlocalwildlife.TheparkwayanditsassociatedtrailsprovideascenicplacetoplayandrestinthebusyWashington,DCmetropolitanarea. BasicInformation» Calendar» CurrentConditions» Maps» KenilworthPark&AquaticGardens Washington,DC DeepwithinKenilworthliesanoasis,hiddenbehindtreesandcattails.It'saplacewherebeaversbuildtheirhomesandturtlessleeponlogs.Lotusbloomsrisefromthemuckandliliessitonthewater.Thewinddanceswiththedragonflies,rustlingthroughthetrees,carryingthesongofthebirdsuntilitbrushesacrossyourface,fadingtoawhisper,saying"comejoin." Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» KoreanWarVeteransMemorial Washington,DC Ournationhonorshersonsanddaughterswhoansweredthecalltodefendacountrytheyneverknewandapeopletheynevermet. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» LBJMemorialGroveonthePotomac Washington,DC Fromthisdistancetheseatofnationalpowerappearspristineacrosstheriver,soPresidentJohnsoncamehereoftenwhenheneededtoescapefromthestressesofbuildingaGreatSociety.Afterhedied,hiswifechosethisplaceforhismemorial.Alandscapeofserpentinepaths,whitepines,agranitemonolith,andanopenmeadowhonorshislegacyofsocialjusticeandconservationlegislation. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» LincolnMemorial Washington,DC "Inthistemple,asintheheartsofthepeopleforwhomhesavedtheUnion,thememoryofAbrahamLincolnisenshrinedforever."Beneaththesewords,the16thpresidentoftheUnitedStatessitsimmortalizedinmarbleasanenduringsymbolofunity,strength,andwisdom. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» MartinLutherKing,Jr.Memorial Washington,DC LocatedindowntownWashington,DC,thememorialhonorsMartinLutherKing,Jr.'slegacyandthestruggleforfreedom,equality,andjustice.Aprominentleaderinthemoderncivilrightsmovement,Dr.Kingwasatirelessadvocateforracialequality,workingclass,andtheoppressedaroundtheworld. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» NationalHistoricSite MaryMcLeodBethuneCouncilHouse Washington,DC MaryMcLeodBethuneachievedhergreatestrecognitionattheWashington,DCtownhousethatisnowthisNationalHistoricSite.TheCouncilHousewasthefirstheadquartersoftheNationalCouncilofNegroWomen(NCNW)andwasBethune’slasthomeinWashington,DC.Fromhere,BethuneandtheNCNWspearheadedstrategiesanddevelopedprogramsthatadvancedtheinterestsofAfricanAmericanwomen. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» NationalCapitalParks-East Washington,DC WelcometoNationalCapitalParks-East.WeinviteyoutojourneytoparksBeyondthecapitolofWashington,D.C.NationalCapitalParks-Eastis13parksites,parkwaysandstatuarycoveringmorethan8,000acresofhistoric,cultural,andrecreationalparklandsfromCapitolHilltothenearbyMarylandsuburbs Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» NationalMallandMemorialParks Washington,DC Thisiswherethenationcomestorememberandwherehistoryismade.As“America’sFrontYard,”theNationalMallandMemorialParksishometomanyofourcountry’smosticonicmemorialstellingthestoryofpeopleandeventsthatshapedusasanation.Eachyear,millionsofpeoplecometorecreate,commemoratepresidentiallegacies,honorourveterans,andmaketheirvoicesheard. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» CalendarofEvents» Maps» PennsylvaniaAvenue Washington,DC Astreetunlikeanyother.ItisknowntheworldoverastheheartoftheNation'sCapital.America'shistoryhasmarched,paraded,promenaded,andprotesteditswayalongtheAvenue. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» NationalScenicTrail PotomacHeritage thecorridorbetweentheChesapeakeBayandtheAlleghenyHighlands,DC,MD,PA,VA Overthousandsofyears,thePotomacRiverwounditswaythroughlayersofrock.Carvinglimestonecliffs,roaringfalls,andserenewindingbends,thesewaterscreatedalandscapeandshapedanation.Today,thePotomacRivercorridorisrichinbothhistoryandrecreation.Offeringachancetobothexploreyourheritageandchooseyouradventurealongtheway.Startyourjourneybelow! Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» President'sPark(WhiteHouse) Washington,DC EverypresidentexceptGeorgeWashingtonhascalledtheWhiteHousehomeandhasruntheexecutivebranchoftheUnitedStatesgovernmentfromwithinitswalls.Recognizablearoundtheworld,theWhiteHousestandsasasymbolofdemocracy.TheWhiteHouseanditsparkgroundsalsoserveasaniconicplaceforcivildiscourse. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» Park RockCreek Washington,DC RockCreekParkistrulyageminournation'scapital.This1,754acrecityparkwasofficiallyauthorizedin1890,makingitthethirdnationalparktobedesignatedbythefederalgovernment.Itoffersvisitorstheopportunitytoescapethebustleofthecityandfindapeacefulrefuge,recreation,freshair,majestictrees,wildanimals,andthousandsofyearsofhumanhistory. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» NationalHistoricTrail Star-SpangledBanner DC,MD,VA ForthreeyearstheyoungUnitedStateswasembroiledintheWarof1812andtheChesapeakeBayregionfeltthebruntofit,chokedbyshippingblockadesandravagedbyenemyraids.ThroughsitesandlandscapesinVirginia,theDistrictofColumbia,andMaryland,theTrailtellsthestoriesoftheevents,people,andplacesthatledtothebirthoftheU.S.nationalanthem. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» TheodoreRooseveltIsland Washington,DC Inthe1930s,landscapearchitectstransformedMason’sIslandfromneglected,overgrownfarmlandintoTheodoreRooseveltIsland,amemorialtoAmerica’s26thpresident.Theyconceiveda“realforest”designedtomimicthenaturalforestthatoncecoveredtheisland.Todaymilesoftrailsthroughwoodeduplandsandswampybottomlandshonorthelegacyofagreatoutdoorsmanandconservationist. BasicInformation» Calendar» CurrentConditions» Maps» ThomasJeffersonMemorial Washington,DC AuthoroftheDeclarationofIndependence,statesmanandvisionaryforthefoundingofanation. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» Memorial VietnamVeterans Washington,DC HonoringthemenandwomenwhoservedinthecontroversialVietnamWar,theVietnamVeteransMemorialchronologicallyliststhenamesof58,318Americanswhogavetheirlivesinservicetotheircountry. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» WashingtonMonument Washington,DC BuilttohonorGeorgeWashington,theUnitedStates'firstpresident,the555-footmarbleobelisktowersoverWashington,D.C. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» NationalHistoricTrail Washington-RochambeauRevolutionaryRoute MA,RI,CT,NY,NJ,PA,DE,MD,VA,DC In1781,GeneralRochambeau’sFrenchArmyjoinedforceswithGeneralWashington’sContinentalArmytofighttheBritishArmyinYorktown,Virginia.WiththeFrenchNavyinsupport,thealliedarmiesmovedhundredsofmilestobecomethelargesttroopmovementoftheAmericanRevolution.TheeffortandcooperationbetweenthetwosidesledtoavictoryatYorktownandsecuredAmericanindependence. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» WorldWarIMemorial Washington,DC Agratefulnationhonorstheservice,valor,courageandsacrificeofthe4.7millionAmericansonsanddaughterswhoservedintheGreatWar. BasicInformation» Calendar» CurrentConditions» Maps» WorldWarIIMemorial Washington,DC Throughstonearchitectureandbronzesculptures,theWorldWarIIMemorialrecognizesthewaysAmericansserved,honorsthosewhofell,andrecognizesthevictorytheyachievedtorestorefreedomandendtyrannyaroundtheglobe. Alerts&Conditions» BasicInformation» Calendar» Maps» ByTheNumbers 25NationalParks16,053,382VisitorstoNationalParks$338,800,000EconomicBenefitfromNationalParkTourism»$14,914,253ofLand&WaterConservationFundAppropriatedforProjects(since1965)»$2,246,433inHistoricPreservationGrants(since1969)»109,552HoursDonatedbyVolunteers»4NationalTrailsAdministeredbyNPS»652NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesListings»74NationalHistoricLandmarks»1,126PlacesRecordedbyHeritageDocumentationPrograms»3,577,170ObjectsinNationalParkMuseumCollections»145ArcheologicalSitesinNationalParks»17TeachingwithHistoricPlacesLessonPlans»9DiscoverOurSharedHeritageTravelItineraries»  Printthesummary» ThesenumbersarejustasampleoftheNationalParkService'swork.Figuresareforthefiscalyearthatended9/30/2020. MOREINFORMATION Alerts Events Photos&Multimedia Articles NationwideNews GetYourAmericatheBeautifulPass! WorkWithUs