National Mall

Millions visit the National Mall every year, but it has nothing to do with shopping. The National Mall is actually a National Park that holds many of the Nation’s most prized possessions. This includes museums, galleries and national memorials commemorating important figures in U.S history. The entire landscape was designed to showcase symbolic views of the contributions and sacrifices made for the nation. Moreover, the National Mall sits in the center of Washington D.C. and is the platform for national events and public meetings.

Museums

The National Museum of American History houses over 3 million artifacts that are considered national treasures. The National Museum of Natural History exhibits more than 126 million natural science specimens and cultural artifacts. The National Air and Space Museum holds the world’s largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft. They are also dedicated to the continuation of scientific research. The National Museum of the American Indian is dedicated to protecting the life and culture of the American Indians. They examine and exhibit the past American Indian lifestlyes. The National Museum of African Art houses artwork from all over Africa. In 2012, officials plan to erect The National Museum of the African American to preserve the life and culture of African Americans.

Memorials

There are presidential monuments like the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, the James A. Garfield Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. More monuments like the Peace Monument, which is dedicated to civil war sailors who fought in the American Civil War, are spread throughout the mall. These marks of respect help visitors recapture important moments in the nation’s history.

Galleries

The National Gallery of Art includes artwork dating back to the Middle Ages. Other important galleries are on the site.

A plethora of knowledge can be found on the grounds of the National Mall. This national park houses the sites of some of the United States's most valued historical and cultural treasures.