- State: DC
- NPCA Region: Mid-Atlantic
- Est. Date: 1790
Air Quality Conditions
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Climate Change Threats
A walk through the heart of the nation’s capital brings visitors face to face with larger-than-life presidents and visionaries, open park lands, and elaborate memorials honoring our nation’s veterans and military history. This green space in downtown Washington, D.C., includes more than 1,000 acres of land showcasing such iconic sites as the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Approximately 25 million people visit each year to experience this unique collection of structures and spaces honoring the nation, its democracy and its citizenry.
East Potomac Park
For many locals, East Potomac Park is one of D.C.’s best-kept secrets. This airy peninsula just south of the Jefferson Memorial drives a grassy wedge between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel. The park draws sports enthusiasts throughout the year with its public golf courses, seasonal public pool and scenic riverfront trail. Hains Point, at the park’s eastern edge, offers stunning views of the river, Fort McNair and the National War College.
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Blog Post
10 Parks for Every Tree Lover’s List
National parks are home to some of the country’s rarest and most remarkable trees. In many cases, these spectacular plants have stood watch over centuries of history. Here are…
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Blog Post
The Other Washington Monument
The marble obelisk on the National Mall is one of the country’s most famous structures — but it is not the oldest monument honoring America’s first president.
More about National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Read more about The Show Must Go On
Podcast Episode The Show Must Go On The only national park site dedicated to the performing arts has been quiet for over a year, but a new chorus of singers is stealing the show at this Virginia venue: a feisty, sex-crazed swarm of Brood X cicadas.
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Read more about 10 National Park Cameos in Movies
Blog Post 10 National Park Cameos in Movies Check out — or revisit — these 10 films where parks played a starring role.
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Read more about Working Like a Dog: See How Pups Help Park Rangers in These 12 Unusual Jobs
Blog Post Working Like a Dog: See How Pups Help Park Rangers in These 12 Unusual Jobs From sniffing out turtle eggs to keeping mountain goats out of parking lots, four-legged rangers carry out many duties that help preserve national park resources and make sure visitors have a pleasant and safe park experience.
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Read more about Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding
Blog Post Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding Find out which national park sites have the most bird species, with a highlight of what you might see at each place.
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Read more about The Art, Science and Economics of Cherry Blossom Forecasting
Blog Post The Art, Science and Economics of Cherry Blossom Forecasting A highly unusual year for D.C.'s famous cherry trees forces festival organizers to scramble and may leave thousands of travelers disappointed.
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Read more about Placing Washington, D.C.
Blog Post Placing Washington, D.C. The paradox of how 10 square miles between Maryland and Virginia became the nation’s capital — through a culture of slavery and a coincidence of geography
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Read more about It's the Best Year to Enjoy National Parks: 10 Reasons Why
Blog Post It's the Best Year to Enjoy National Parks: 10 Reasons Why It's the 100th birthday of the National Park Service, with opportunities to celebrate the parks throughout 2016. From planting a “Centennial Forest” in Texas to counting species of plants and animals on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., here are 10 ways to take your appreciation for national parks to historic levels in 2016.
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Read more about 9 Romantic Park Trips for You and Your Valentine
Blog Post 9 Romantic Park Trips for You and Your Valentine Whether you want to live it up near the city lights or get away from it all under the starlight, national parks provide a wealth of amorous adventures for you and your Valentine.
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Read more about 5 Ways to Celebrate Veterans Day — Free — at a National Park
Blog Post 5 Ways to Celebrate Veterans Day — Free — at a National Park Why not take the next fee-free day throughout the National Park System to learn more about America's military history?
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Read more about Tree Huggers
Magazine Article Tree Huggers Washington D.C.’s tourists were loving its cherry trees to death, until a beaver showed them the way.
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