Science and History on the National Mall (STEM Trek)

Entries on This Tour

1. National Academy of Sciences Building

Founded in 1863 through an Act of Congress signed by Abraham Lincoln, the National Academy of Sciences is a non-profit private organization that serves to further scientific research and knowledge. Currently, the National Academy of Sciences is part of the International Council for Science, and is headquartered in its main building in Washington, DC. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 15, 1974.

2. Albert Einstein Memorial

Einstein was born at Ulm, in Wurttemburg, Germany on March 14, 1879. In 1896 he entered the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich to be trained as a physics and mathematics teacher. He earned his diploma in 1901 and gained Swiss citizenship, but was unable to find work as a teacher. He worked as a Technical Assistant in the Swiss Patent Office and also worked to receive his doctor’s degree in 1905. In 1909 he became Professor Extraordinary at Zurich, and became Professor of Theoretical Physics in Prague. He became a German citizen in 1914, but emigrated to America in 1933 due to political reasons. He was visiting the United States when Hitler came to power. Being Jewish, he did not return to Germany. There, he became Professor of Theoretical Physics at Princeton. He eventually became U.S. citizen in 1940, and retired from his post in 1945.

3. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

This memorial to the 58,272 American military personnel who perished or were declared missing in action (MIA) during the Vietnam War was completed in 1982. The wall, in addition to the Three Servicemen Statue and the Vietnam Women's Memorial, is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The memorial demonstrates the way that public perception of monuments can change over time. The initial design for the monument at the National Mall received criticism from leading conservative politicians who hoped to create a memorial that was similar to other war monuments that depicted soldiers and military leaders. Some politicians and commentators even attacked the designer, 21-year old student May Lin, because she was the daughter of Chinese immigrants. By the time of the monument's dedication, however, most Americans approved of the monument's design. Those who saw the monument in person were moved to see the reflections of the living in the Black granite wall as they reflected upon the names of the dead.

4. Vietnam Women's Memorial

The Vietnam Women’s Memorial honors the 265,000 women who served in the American military in the Vietnam era, 10,000 to 11,000 of whom actively served in the Vietnam War. Dedicated in 1993, this is the first memorial in the nation’s capital specifically dedicated to women’s service in the Armed Forced. The sculpture, created by artist Glenna Goodacre, depicts three women caring for a male soldier. The memorial is located within walking distance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and the Lincoln Memorial.

5. The Lincoln Memorial

An iconic symbol of freedom stands in the center of our nation’s capital: the Lincoln Memorial. This grand monument to one of our most influential presidents has been the site of countless concerts, speeches, and protests -- including Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Dedicated to the Savior of the Union, the memorial and its history call to mind the human rights struggles our nation has faced, from the Civil War to the March on Washington. Today, it is overseen by the National Park Service and is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks.

6. John Ericsson Memorial

This memorial commemorates Swedish-born engineer and inventor, John Ericsson (1803-1889). He is best remembered for designing the U.S. Navy’s first ironclad, the Monitor, during the Civil War. Following Ericsson’s death, Scandinavian-Americans petitioned Congress to erect a memorial in honor of him in Washington, D.C. In 1916, Congress appropriated $35,000 and established a commission to oversee the project. The John Ericsson Memorial Committee then raised an additional $25,000, and in cooperation with the Commission of Fine Arts chose sculptor James Earle Frasier to design the memorial. Dedicated on May 29, 1926 in West Potomac Park, it depicts Ericsson seated in a chair with a cloak draped around him. With his head tilted down and slightly to the side, he appears deep in thought. An ode to the engineer and inventor’s Scandinavian roots, Frasier included in the composition the Yggdrasill, the tree of life in Norse mythology, which rises behind Ericsson. Standing around the tree are three allegorical figures that represent “Adventure,” Labor,” and “Vision.”

7. Korean War Veterans Memorial

The Korean War Veterans Memorial, situated just off of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, honors those who served in the Korean War. The memorial was commissioned by the U.S. Congress on October 28, 1986 and the design and construction of the monument was jointly managed by the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory Board and the American Battle Monuments Commission. The final design selected for the monument was created by Washington architectural firm Cooper-Lecky, following a bitter dispute that involved a government-sponsored design contest and four students from The Pennsylvania State University (see NY Times article below). The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 14, 1992 and the memorial was dedicated on the 42nd anniversary of the end of the conflict-- July 27, 1995. The memorial is managed by the National Mall and Memorial Parks division of the National Park Service.

8. Japanese Cherry Trees

These Yoshino cherry trees, or sakura, were a gift from the city of Tokyo, Japan to the United States and were planted in 1912 in a small ceremony with First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Iwa Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador to the United States. The trees symbolized the friendship between the two nations, and was the culmination of several years' work trying to transport trees to the US without disease or pests. These trees were the first of over 3,000 trees from Japan planted in the nation's capital. The city began celebrating the Cherry Blossom festival in 1935 and the symbolic planting of two cherry trees has been a reoccurring event in Japanese-American diplomacy for decades.

9. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

This West Potomac Park memorial commemorates one of the leaders of the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968). A Baptist minister and advocate of non-violent protest, he rose to prominence within the movement and became a national figure as a result of the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956). Between 1957 and 1964, King founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, organized the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and received the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership efforts. On April 4, 1968, while in Memphis to lend his support to striking sanitation workers, he was assassinated by James Earl Ray. Nearly thirty years after King’s death, Congress authorized his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, to erect a memorial in his honor in the nation’s capital. After its formation, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation selected West Potomac Park's Tidal Basin as the memorial’s site and held a design competition, which drew more than 900 entrants. In 2000, the foundation selected the proposal submitted by ROMA Design Group. To execute the work, the group hired Chinese sculptor Lei Yixin. Dedicated in 2011, the memorial consists of a thirty-foot-tall rough granite mountain with a large section sliced from it. The section features a relief of King, standing defiantly with arms crossed. The design was inspired by a line from the civil rights leader’s famous “I Have a Dream Speech” in which he states: “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.”

10. District of Columbia War Memorial

Built in 1931, the District of Columbia War Memorial honors the 26,000 residents of D.C. who served in World War I. With architecture inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, it was designed as a functional bandstand for commemorative and military concerts that were popular in the early to mid twentieth century. Today, it is part of the National Park Service's National Mall and Memorial Parks, where it has recently undergone restoration. It is the only locally-focused memorial on the National Mall.

11. John Paul Jones Memorial

This West Potomac Park memorial honors John Paul Jones (1747-1792), a Scottish-born naval commander who served in the Continental Navy during the American Revolution. Referred to as the “Father of the American Navy,” he is best remembered for his victory at the Battle of Flamborough Head on September 23, 1779. During the naval engagement, Jones’s vessel, USS 'Bonhomme Richard,' caught fire and began to sink. In response to a British request to surrender, he defiantly replied, “I have not yet begun to fight!” In June 1909, Congress allocated $50,000 for the construction of a memorial in honor of Jones. Dedicated in 1912, the memorial consists of a bronze statue of the Scottish-born naval commander backed by an elaborate marble stele fountain. Designed by sculptor Charles Henry Niehaus, the statue depicts Jones, dressed in full military uniform, standing and gazing into the distance with his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Etched into the back of the marble stele is a relief of Jones raising an American flag aboard the Bonhomme Richard. At the stele’s ends, near its base, two stylized fish spout water into two small basins.

12. National World War II Memorial

Opened in 2004, the World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the United States Armed Forces, the more than 400,000 members who made the ultimate sacrifice, and the millions who supported war efforts on the home front. This is the only memorial related to an event in the 20th century that appears in the central axis of the National Mall. It is part of the National Park Service's National Mall and Memorial Parks.

13. Jefferson Pier Stone

At just three feet tall, the Jefferson Pier Stone may seem oddly placed compared to the nearby Washington Monument, which reaches a height of 555 feet. However, the stone's history reveals the aspiration of American leaders who hoped this location would be recognized as the world's prime meridian line instead of several competing claims in European capital cities. An arbitrary north-south line, the prime meridian is recognized as zero longitude and marks the dividing line between the eastern and western hemispheres. The stone also serves as the southwest corner of a right triangle that connects the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the originally-planned location of the Washington Monument. The Washington Meridian, as the line was called, formed the short side of the triangle line between the White House and the Washington Monument. The pier stone was placed here in 1804 and a replacement was erected in 1889. By that time, a line derived from the Greenwich Prime Meridian was accepted by most nations and had been used by ship captains around the globe.

14. The Washington Monument

Perhaps the most iconic monument in the nation's capital, the Washington Monument honors America's first president, George Washington. The monument dates back to 1833 when the National Monument Society began raising funds for the completion of this and other monuments. The Society ran out of funds in 1856, leaving the base of the monument unfinished until 1876, when construction resumed. The monument was completed in 1885. In the early 20th century, the monument became the centerpiece of the National Park Service's National Mall and Memorial Parks. Discerning visitors will notice that the base and the top of the monument feature slightly different colors of stone, something that reflects the two different phases of construction. The two decades when construction was paused created a situation where the original quarry was not available for the second phase.

15. German-American Friendship Garden

The German-American Friendship Garden was established in 1988 to commemorate the 300 years of German immigration to America and the friendship between the United States and Germany. It is located between the White House and the Washington Monument and consists of several planting beds with native plants of both countries and two water fountains. There is also an interpretive panel describing the park.

16. Lockkeeper's House

The Lockkeeper’s House was built sometime between 1832 and 1837 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This structure, the oldest on the National Mall, was built as a home for the lockkeeper of the extension that was built onto the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal. Between 1833 and the Civil War, the canal allowed for the passage of freight along present-day Constitution Avenue. The canal was seldom used by 1870, and in the following decade, the city's engineers filled the canal with rock and soil, creating Constitution Avenue. To this day, the canal runs under Constitution Avenue serving as a closed sewer. After the abandonment of the canal, In 1902, the C&O Canal Company transferred the lockhouse to the Army Corps of Engineers who evicted an African American family who had taken up residence in the long-abandoned house. The house was converted into use for the Park Police headquarters in 1903. In around 1915 or 1916, with the widening of 17th street, the Lockkeepers house was moved around In 1940, the first floor was converted into a bathroom and the attic used for storage. It was renovated in 2017 to serve as a historical exhibit and today serves as a reminder of the historical importance of canals.

17. Queen Isabella Sculpture

Jose Luis Sanchez of Spain originally created this sculpture of Queen Isabella of Castille for the 1964 New York International Fair. However, her statue would later be dedicated on April 14, 1966, for the front of the Organization of American States building. Her authority for declaring Columbus's expedition shaped much of our preliminary understanding of the Americas today. Her advocacy for education supported Christopher Columbus' expedition to the New World, while her emphasis on religion would lead to a regimented government directly affecting the fortitude of the Spanish Empire known today.

18. Daughters of the American Revolution Museum

The Daughters of the American Revolution is a women's service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, patriotism, and honoring the patriots of the Revolutionary War. Their headquarters and museum are located in the within walking distance of President's Park and the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The museum, located in the 1904 Memorial Continental Hall, is dedicated to preserving the history, art, and artifacts of pre-industrial America. Established in 1890, the museum has 33 American period rooms with a collection expanding more than 30,000 items, including coverlets, furniture, costumes, ceramics, miniatures, toys, dolls, silver, glass, and musical instruments used or made in America in the preindustrial period (1700 to 1850).

19. National Red Cross Headquarters

Declared a National Historical Landmark in 1965, the headquarters of the National Red Cross houses a small number of exhibits related to the history of the organization, as well as artifacts and works of art. The Red Cross was founded in the United States by Clara Barton and a circle of her acquaintances in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881.

20. Motherland (Armenian Earthquake Statue)

On December 7, 1988, two earthquakes devastated the northwestern region of the small Soviet republic of Armenia. Occurring within four minutes of each another, the tremors killed between 25,000 and 60,000 people, injured over 100,000 more, and left more than 500,000 homeless. Following the natural disaster, the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, made the surprising and unprecedented move of requesting international humanitarian aid to help the people of Armenia. One of the organizations that responded to Gorbachev’s call was the American Red Cross. In the year following the earthquakes, the organization donated over $14 million in disaster assistance. Of the total amount, the American Red Cross gave $8 million worth of medicine and medical supplies and $6.5 million in cash. Following the disaster and the influx of foreign aid, Armenian sculptor Friedrich Sogoyan went to work creating a statue. The result of his labors was Motherland, a stylized bronze sculpture of a mother closely clutching her child. Completed in 1990, the piece was inspired by the story of Susanna Petrosyan who was trapped beneath rubble with her four-year-old daughter for eight days. To alleviate the thirst of her child, the mother lacerated her hand and allowed her daughter to drink some of her own blood. Miraculously, both survived. The following year, Sogoyan presented the sculpture to the American Red Cross as a gift from the people of Armenia in recognition of the organization’s help in the aftermath of the devastating 1988 earthquakes. The sculpture sits on the lawn outside the American Red Cross National Headquarters on Seventeenth Street NW in Washington, D.C.

21. First Division Monument

The First Division Monument honors fallen members of the First Division of the United States Army. Located in President's Park outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the monument was originally erected and dedicated in 1924 in honor of First Division members who died in World War I. The Society of the First Division, under the leadership of Major General Charles P. Summerall, advocated for a World War I monument in the nation's capital. Over the years, multiple additions to the monument honor First Division members who died in World War II, the Vietnam War, and Desert Storm. Its design reflects the Battle Monument at the United States Military Academy in West Point. It features a granite columnn and pedestal designed by Cass Gilbert and a winged statue of Victory by David Chester French. The First Division Monument is under the care of the National Park Service and hosts services on Veterans Day.

22. Zero Milestone

Created by sculptor Horace W. Peaslee, this marker was set in 1923 to replace an earlier stone placed in President's Park in 1919. The first marker signified the starting point of a U.S. Army motor convoy from Washington and San Francisco which explored and raised awareness about the needs of the nation's roads. The dedication of the official milestone took place on June 4, 1923. The stone is granite, four feet high with engravings on all sides and a compass rose on top. The original purpose of the stone was to set an origin point for measuring highways in the United States. Roads and distances within the nation's capital are still measured using the Zero Milestone.

23. Boy Scout Memorial

This monument was constructed in honor of Scouting's contributions to the United States and all those who helped in developing each scout's character. The memorial was unveiled in Washington, D.C. in 1964 and was later refurbished in 2009. Its construction was approved by Congress in 1959, after its introduction by Senator Lyndon Johnson, with funds raised from scouts and donations from across the country. The memorial consists of three statues, a man, a woman, and a scout, all atop a pedestal which bears an inscription, and a fountain. The National Park Services restored the memorial in 2009 following its decline. Problems with the fountain’s operation, and other issues which arose since its creation. The memorial is located south of the White House in the Ellipse along 15th Street North West.

24. Original Patentees Memorial

The Original Patentees Memorial honors the 18 settlers—patentees—who were the first to own the land that later formed the District of Columbia. Patentees are individuals who receive a grant and in this case, the settlers were each awarded a grant in the form of land. They received the grants before 1700. The memorial is a limestone obelisk seven feet high and features inscriptions of the settlers' names as well as carved relief panels depicting a tobacco plant, wild turkey, a stalk of corn, and a fish.

25. Oscar S. Straus Memorial

This Federal Triangle memorial commemorates lawyer and diplomat, Oscar S. Straus (1850-1926). A native of what is now Germany and a graduate of Columbia College of Law, he served as U.S. secretary of commerce and labor from 1906 to 1909, the first Jewish Cabinet member in American history. The brother of Isidor and Nathan Straus of Macy’s fame, Straus also represented the United States in the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) on three separate occasions (1887-1889, 1898-1900, and 1909-1910). For this, he is considered by some to be one of America’s first career diplomats. Shortly after Straus’s death, Congress authorized the construction of a memorial in honor of him in the nation’s capital. Subsequently, the federal government agreed to donate a site and pay for its future maintenance. Family, friends, and admirers of Straus then formed a committee to raise funds for the memorial’s construction. The Great Depression and the Second World War, however, hampered their fundraising efforts and delayed the project for years, but in 1947 the memorial was finally completed. Dedicated by President Harry Truman in the Federal Triangle on October 26, 1947, the memorial consists of a large fountain with concentric basins flanked by two bronze allegorical groups on pedestals. Designed by German-American sculptor Adolph Alexander Weinman, the sculptures represent “Justice” and “Reason.” Today, the memorial sits in front of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

26. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

The National Museum of African American History & Culture was authorized by Congress and President George W. Bush in 2003. After 13 years of planning and construction, the museum opened on September 24th, 2016. The museum holds over 40,000 artifacts within its vaults, most of which were donated by institutions and individuals. Several thousand of artifacts are included in the museum's twelve galleries. The museum's three-tiered form is meant to symbolize hands held in prayer and was modeled from the shape of a traditional Yoruban crown. As of November, 2016, this museum uses a timed pass system to accommodate large crowds.

27. Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

The National Museum of American History is dedicated to the "infinite richness and complexity" of American history. Located on the National Mall, it is one of the most-visited museums in the country. The Smithsonian collections of American history date back to the 17th century and efforts to preserve artifacts date back to the 1840s, while the current museum building opened in 1964 as the Museum of History and Technology. Its name was changed to the National Museum of American History in 1980. The museum's renovation from 2006 to 2008 included the construction of the new Star-Spangled Banner gallery, which holds the original flag that inspired the national anthem. The Museum includes exhibits dedicated to a plethora of topics, including politics and government, civil rights, gender and sexuality, military and war, business and innovation, indigenous Americans, ethnicity and immigration, disability history, religion, and food history.

28. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History is the most-visited natural history museum in the United States. Dedicated to inspiring curiosity and discovery of the natural world, the National Museum of Natural History preserves and interprets natural science, geology, and anthropology collections. The current building on the National Mall opened in 1910. Among the most popular exhibits are the Hall of Dinosaurs, Egyptian and Roman artifacts, the Hope Diamond, and the sarcophagus of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen.

29. Statue of Joseph Henry

The statue of Joseph Henry, first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, welcomes visitors to the Smithsonian Institution Building, also known as the Castle. Joseph Henry (1797-1878) was renowned as a scientist who made important contributions to the study of electromagnetism and invention of the electric motor, telegraph, and telephone. The Smithsonian Board of Regents appointed him Secretary in 1846, and he spent the rest of his life laying essential groundwork for the Smithsonian Institution as it is today. The bronze statue in his memory, created by William Wetmore Story, was erected in 1883.

30. Smithsonian Institution Building, the Castle

Completed in 1855, the Smithsonian Institution Building, commonly known as the Castle, was the first building of the Smithsonian Institution and also the first building on the National Mall. Its beautiful Norman, Romanesque, and Gothic architectural styles earned it the nickname “the Castle.” It was the first building to house Smithsonian exhibits and collections of natural history, history, anthropology, and art. Today, the Castle houses administrative offices, an information center, exhibits, and the crypt of James Smithson, the benefactor and namesake of the Smithsonian Institution.

31. Location of the Daguerre Memorial (1890 to 1969)

From its dedication in 1890 to its removal from the National Mall in 1969, this was the site of a monument that honored the work of French artist and inventor Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre (1787-1851). In 1839, Daugerre invented the first practical process to capture images and this monument was commissioned by the Photographers' Association of America. Daguerre called the likenesses he created a "daguerreotype," and the new technology and technique spread quickly around the world as it made it possible to capture still images. Daguerre's innovation used chemical reactions to capture a detailed and enduring image on a copper plate in just a few minutes. The process required a subject to be still, and in the 1840s and much of the 1850s, this technology was used to create portraits, including thousands that have been preserved. Recognizing the value of Daguerre's contribution to the world, the memorial was taken out of storage and placed at the National Portrait Gallery in 1989. The monument features a bust of Daguerre between a globe and a female figure representing Fame. The assertions of one of the monument's inscriptions demonstrate the ethos of the era when it was created. One inscription reads "Photograph, the electric telegraph, and the steam engine are the three greatest discoveries of the age. No five centuries in human progress can show such strides as these."

32. Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building

Completed in 1881, the Arts and Industries building was the second structure on the National Mall and the first building dedicated solely to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum. It housed early collections of natural history, American history, anthropology, and art. As the Smithsonian Institution grew, these collections were given their own museums on the National Mall. Currently undergoing renovations, the Arts and Industries Building is open for special events and pop-up exhibitions. The grounds are home to the beautifully landscaped Mary Livingston Ripley Garden. The Arts and Industries Building, one of the finest examples of architecture inspired by the world's fairs, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1971.

33. Smithsonian National Museum of African Art

Established in 1963 as a freestanding museum near Capitol Hill in a townhouse, this museum grew to become part of the Smithsonian Institution in 1979. After an act of Congress in 1981, the museum was renamed the National Museum of African Art. The museum was created thanks to the leadership and advocacy of Warren M. Robbins, a prominent art collector, and former U.S. Foreign Service Officer who saw this museum as a way to foster an appreciation of this heritage and an understanding of the African continent generally. When the museum opened to the public in May 1964, it was the first museum in the United States dedicated to African art exclusively. Today it is the only national museum in the United States dedicated to the collection, exhibition, conservation, and study of the arts of Africa.

34. James V. Forrestal Building, US Department of Energy

Named after the first US Secretary of Defense, this Cold War-era building features the briefly-popular Brutalist style of architecture that is itself a product of the Cold War. The building housed the offices of Navy personnel between its completion in 1969 and the creation of the Department of Energy in 1977. The creation of the Cabinet-level Department of Energy was a response to the various energy crisis of the 1970s and combined several existing federal agencies such as the Federal Energy Administration, the Federal Power Commission, and the Energy Research and Development Administration. The Department of Energy oversees a variety of civilian and military energy-related programs, including those related to nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants. In recent decades, the department oversees the government's efforts to develop and promote renewable energy initiatives.

35. Army Medical Museum and Library (1888-1969)

The Army Medical Museum and Library was one of the earliest federally appointed research institutes combining medical and military science. Founded in 1888, the building served as the Army Medical School and library of the Surgeon General of the Army (which would later become the National Library of Medicine) until the 1960s, when different locations were chosen for its services. Despite becoming a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, the building was demolished in 1969. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden can now be found on the site. The museum's collections are now held by a variety of institutions, including the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Maryland.

36. Dwight D Eisenhower Memorial

The Dwight D Eisenhower Memorial commemorates the life of the 34th US President who is best known for leading allied forces in World War II. The memorial was designed by Frank Gehry and consists of a series of three statues, inscriptions, and a first-of-its-kind tapestry. The memorial features three statues sculpted by Sergey Eylanbekov, one of Eisenhower as a boy, one as Supreme Allied Commander with troops from the 101st Airborne Division, and one as President featured with civilian and military advisors. The tapestry by Tomas Osiniki depicts the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc on the Normandy coastline. Dedicated on September 18, 2020, this was the newest memorial on or near the National Mall at the time this article was written.

37. Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum houses the largest collection of artifacts related to space and aviation. With both the location in Washington, D.C. and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, the National Air and Space Museum is the most popular museum in the country, drawing in more than eight million visitors per year. Dating back to its founding in 1876, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum holds true to its mission to educate, inspire, and celebrate the history and progress of both air and space flight.

38. Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is a recent addition to the historical museums of the Smithsonian. Unlike almost any other museum in the country, the NMAI displays exhibits that center upon the life, history, and culture of Western Hemisphere Native Americans. The museum opened to the public on September 21st, 2004. Prior to that time, the creation of the museum was a collective venture between the Smithsonian and various Native communities that began in the early 1990s. Through this cooperation, the museum creates and maintains exhibits on Native peoples and their history. The architecture of the building also incorporates many thematic elements central to the lives and culture of Native peoples.

39. United States Botanic Garden Conservatory

Established by the U.S. Congress in 1820, this botanic garden is one of the oldest in the nation and reflects President George Washington's vision for the nation's capital which included aesthetically pleasing buildings and gardens. The indoor exhibits and gardens take users through a variety of natural environments and include many endangered species. The outdoor spaces offer a variety of species that are native to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

40. Bartholdi Park and Fountain

This park is home to the U.S. Botanic Garden Administration Building and the Bartholdi Fountain. The park was renamed in 1985 to honor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi who designed the Statue of Liberty. The thirty-foot-tall Bartholdi Fountain was also renamed and was originally designed for Philadelphia's 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Capitol architect Frederick Law Olmsted purchased the fountain after the Philadelphia exposition was complete and placed it at the center of the National Mall which served as the home o the U.S. Botanic Garden until 1927. The statue was re-dedicated in 1932.

This Tour is a Thematic Tour or Heritage Trail.

Science and History on the National Mall (STEM Trek)

Created by David J. Trowbridge on July 6th 2023, 11:48:52 pm.

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Description

This trail was originally created for the National Youth Science Camp and includes stops at forty landmarks and museums, including many that are related to science and technology. This route travels mostly west to east with a starting point that is near the Foggy Bottom Metro and an ending point near Capitol South Metro. There are scores of incredible museums and landmarks that are in Clio but not on this route. You can browse Clio at your leisure to find these and even receive notifications about nearby landmarks as you explore by using Clio's free mobile app. Simply turn on geofencing in the app and select a notification radius and other preferences and you will receive notifications, just be aware that a radius beyond a hundred meters will likely result in more notifications than one might prefer when walking through the heart of DC.

Entries on This Tour

Science and History on the National Mall (STEM Trek)

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