National Mall

The Eastern Market is the best place for breakfast.
The old market building was built in 1873. Now there are many grocery and souvenir shops, as well as cafes and restaurants with a variety of cuisine.
Have a big breakfast, drink a huge cup of coffee and go for a walk in the most important place in our country.
The market opens at 8.00. Closed on Mondays.

The laws of our country are adopted in this magnificent building. The foundation stone of the Capitol was laid by George Washington in 1793. The building has been repeatedly rebuilt and expanded. The modern Capitol is close in architecture to the Cathedral of St. Peter in the Vatican and Les Invalides in Paris. An allegory of Freedom is installed on the gorgeous dome.
Visiting the Capitol is currently not possible due to Covid-19. So stay tuned for information. The situation can change at any time. In the meantime, you will have a great opportunity to look at this magnificent building from the outside and head to museums.
There are a lot of museums at the National Mall. Unfortunately, it is impossible to get around all of them during one day. Everyone will prefer something of their own. Perhaps you had a dream for a long time to visit the Smithsonian Museum of American History, or you wanted to visit the National Museum of Natural History, or your soul is gravitating toward the National Gallery, where the works of the greatest American artists are collected. Time to make your choice.
Only main museums of this awesome location and their opening times are listed in this route. Please note that each museum has its own days off. Visit the museums in the first part of the day. Most of them close at 6 PM. In the evening, you can view the memorials because the National Mall is open 24 hours a day.
In the description of museums, half an hour is allotted for a visit. This is done to fit a one-day trip schedule. It takes at least 2 or 3 hours to see any museum's exhibition.

This is the oldest and most popular Smithsonian Museum. It was founded back in 1846 and was located in the building of the Smithsonian Castle.
Well, who didn’t want to become a paleontologist and study giant prehistoric animals as a child? This museum has a dinosaur hall where you can remember your childhood experiences. They even have a T.Rex skeleton.
There are many other collections here. You will find Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals, Hall of Human Origins, Ocean Hall, Hall of Mammals, Hall of Insects and many others.
The museum is open from 10 am to 5.30 pm. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

This museum contains a huge collection of all things related to America. Here you will find the original Star-Spangled Banner, the first American locomotives, the Julia Child’s kitchen, an entire eighteenth-century colonial house and many others. On the third floor there is an exhibition dedicated to the life of American presidents and First Ladies. The dresses of Presiden's Wives can be used to study how fashion has changed through the centuries.
All American history is kept within these walls.
The museum is open from 10 am to 5.30 pm. It is closed on Wednesday and Thursday

In this theater, on April 14, 1865, one of the greatest people in the history of our country was killed. The theater is perfectly preserved and now looks the same as on the day of Abraham Lincoln's death. Even the President's Box is decorated as on that fateful day.
The theater museum houses exhibits from the day of Lincoln's assassination, including the gun which was used to kill the president.
The theater and museum are open from 9 am to 5 pm. It is closed on Tuesday. Tickets must be purchased in advance on the website https://www.fords.org/visit/historic-site/

You can have lunch at this venue or choose another one in the area.

You are now standing in front of probably the most recognizable home in the United States. And it is smaller than it seems in pictures, isn't it?
Did you know that the only president for whom the White House did not serve as the official residence was George Washington? The White House was built in 1800 when John Adams was president.
Like almost all of Washington DC, the White House was burned down by the British in 1814. But it was rebuilt after the victory and continued its “service”.
The garden in front of the White House is open to visitors twice a year. If you are not on one of these days, just take a few photos with that graceful building in the background and move to the next point.

This is the highest obelisk in the world and the highest building in Washington DC. The construction of the monument was completed in 1884 and until the construction of the Eiffel Tower in 1889, it remained the highest building in the world.
Now you can climb to the very top by elevator or walk up 896 steps. The first option is easier, isn't it?
Signing up for a tour is not easy. Tickets appear on the site a day before the visit day at 10 am. Try to sign up here https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/234635/ticket/193
After watching Washington Monument head to Memorials along Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. All Memorials open around the clock, so you can visit them even late in the evening.

The first memorial honoring Abraham Lincoln was erected already in 1868, three years after the death of this great man.
The current building was completed in 1922. It was designed in the style of an ancient Greek temple. The opening was attended by the son of Abraham Lincoln.
The building is full of symbols. For example, the 36 columns of the memorial symbolize the 36 states that had united at the time of Lincoln's death. The famous Honest Abe speeches are engraved on the memorial walls.
In the center of the memorial stands the famous Lincoln statue by Daniel Chester French. Several legends are associated with the statue. According to one of these legends, the president uses the American Sign Language to show his initials: his left-hand gestures the letter "A" and his right hand "L". This legend has not been confirmed, but it has not been refuted either.

Walk around the Lincoln Memorial and you will find yourself at the top of Watergate Steps. Spend a couple of minutes to enjoy spectacular views of the Potomac River, Arlington Memorial Bridge and equestrian statues at the western edge of the National Mall.

This memorial is dedicated to the strongest advocate for civil rights in the United States. To the Man who had a Dream.
This is the newest memorial at the National Mall. It was designed by Lei Yixin and was opened in 2011. This is the first African American memorial at the National Mall.
Pay respect to one of the Americans' loudest voices for social justice.

The memorial's main sculpture depicts the 32nd President of the United States next to his dog Fala. As you know, Franklin Delano Roosevelt is the only president in the history of our country who has been elected to this post more than two times. Therefore, lots of events happened during his presidency. Many of them are symbolically displayed in the statues and waterfalls of this monument. Here you will find references to World War II, the aftermath of the Great Depression and other events that marked Roosevelt's presidential terms.
You will also see a statue of Eleanor Roosevelt here, so this is the only memorial at the National Mall with the image of the First Lady. And as Fala sits beside his owner, this is the only memorial with a dog here.

The memorial to one of the Founding Fathers is located in the southern part of the National Mall. Along with the Capitol, White House and Lincoln Memorial, it forms the ends of a huge cross.
The construction of the building designed by John Russell Pope was completed in 1943 and on April 13, on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson. The memorial was inaugurated by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 4 years later, a bronze statue of the third president by Rudulph Evans was installed.
The Jefferson Memorial was ranked No.4 on America's Favorite Architecture, several spots ahead of the Lincoln Memorial.
There are a lot of sights and emotions happening today, aren't they? Most likely you are already tired and hungry. Take a stroll down the National Mall to the restaurant for an evening glimpse of monuments, museums and memorials.

After this day full of impressions and walks, you can finally return to the hotel and relax. The road back to Pittsburgh awaits you tomorrow, and I will try to make it interesting.