Major Memorials

The National Park Service has a new name for the national parkland that extends from the Capitol to the Potomac River, encompassing the memorials, Washington Monument, National Mall, and West and East Potomac parks: National Mall and Memorial Parks. Not only that, but the Park Service now operates a radio station, 1670 AM, that broadcasts prerecorded information regarding visiting hours at park sites and news items about this area; only those within 3 miles of the Mall can access the 10-watt signal, so maybe it will be most useful to all those drivers circling the Mall in search of a parking space.

The National Mall and Memorial Parks' major memorials honor esteemed presidents, war veterans, founding fathers, and, coming at the end of 2008, a civil rights leader. On November 13, 2006, thousands attended the official groundbreaking for the National Mall's newest memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial, with many more anticipated for the memorial's dedication in December 2008. Located on a 4-acre parcel at the intersection of West Basin Drive and Independence Avenue, adjoining the Tidal Basin and adjacent to the FDR Memorial, and positioned in a direct line with the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, the King Memorial pays tribute to the Baptist minister, who advocated nonviolence and direct action to force social change, and whose efforts and compelling speeches profoundly moved the country toward that achievement -- before he was assassinated at the age of 39 on April 4, 1968.

All of these memorials are located in picturesque West Potomac Park, which lies at the western end of the Mall, where it borders the Potomac River and encircles the Tidal Basin. Unfortunately, none of the memorials lies directly on a Metro line, so you can expect a bit of a walk from the specified station.

The easiest thing to do, if you're up to it, is to walk from one monument or memorial to the next. Dress for the weather: light clothing, shades, and sunscreen in summer; a hat, gloves, and warm jacket in winter -- these monuments are set in wide open spaces, with little to no protection from the elements. But when the weather is lovely, so is the experience of sauntering around West Potomac Park.

Or, you can go by Tourmobile, which continually picks up and discharges passengers at each of these sites throughout the day. Tourmobile, in fact, might be the best way to get around, since parking spaces, which have always been scarce, are even more so now that security barriers have overtaken some of the lots. The National Park Service manages all of these properties and maintains information about each of them, including upcoming events, at www.nps.gov; click on "DC," then scroll down the page to click on the names of individual parks.

Some believe the best time to visit the memorials is at night, when they're illuminated in all their imposing white-stone glory and the crowds have thinned. Try it -- all of the memorials are safe to visit after dark, with park rangers on hand until 11:30pm year-round, except for the Washington Monument, which closes at 5pm now. You may view the exteriors anytime.

Rise Above the Crowds

When the line is too long at the Washington Monument, walk over to the Old Post Office Pavilion at 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (tel. 202/606-8691), to ride two sets of elevators 270 feet up to the 12th-floor clock tower, for a fabulous, 360-degree view of the city. No, it's not quite the same vista as that of the Monument, which stands at a little over 555 feet high and surveys the Mall and beyond. But this is the second highest view of the capital, putting Pennsylvania Avenue, the Capitol, and other landmarks in your sights. The National Park Service operates the service, which is free and available daily. Enter the pavilion and look for the glass elevator.

Memorial Day

It's most fitting to honor America's veterans on Memorial Day by heading to Washington to visit the war memorials on the National Mall, but if you're contemplating such a trip there's something you should know: You'll be in the company of hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists. Every year, legions of bikers from across the country roar into town to pay tribute to America's war veterans, prisoners of war, and those missing in action. The event is known as "Rolling Thunder," and it's taken place for 21 years. Bikers start arriving on the Friday preceding Memorial Day and park their motorcycles all over the grounds and streets near the Vietnam, Lincoln, and World War II memorials. A tour of the National Mall anytime during this weekend is a noisy affair, culminating in the earsplitting finale on Sunday, as the official Rolling Thunder parade vrooms from the starting point at the Pentagon, around the Mall, winding up at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. If you're a biker, by all means, join the parade. Otherwise, stand back and salute. By the way, some of the tour bus services, like Tourmobile, suspend their tours on the day of the parade.

Albert Einstein Memorial, 22nd Street and Constitution Avenue Northwest

In a grove of holly and elm trees, at the southwest corner of the National Academy of Science grounds, you'll find this dear memorial displaying the slouching figure of brilliant scientist, great thinker, and peace activist Albert Einstein. He sits slightly bent and sideways, upon a granite bench, leaning on one hand and holding in the other a bronze sheet of paper on which are written mathematical equations for which he is famous. At his feet is a celestial map. His gaze looks worn and warm. The statue measures 12 feet in height and weighs 4 tons, yet children cannot resist crawling upon it, and leaning up against this man.