Friday, 20 January, 2023
If you’re planning a trip to Washington, D.C., you’ll probably visit the many monuments in the city. While many visitors plan their tours during the day, some of the monuments are even more spectacular at night when they’re lit up. If you do some of your sightseeing after dark, not only will you avoid much of the daytime crowds, but if you’re there in the summer, you’ll also beat the heat. Take a look at some of the coolest Washington D.C. monuments to see at night.
Jefferson Memorial
The Jefferson Memorial is located on the National Mall’s Tidal Basin, which is a body of water bordered by cherry blossom trees. Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States and authored the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. The memorial honors his many accomplishments throughout his life.
When you visit the Jefferson Memorial, you’ll see a white-columned structure and a 19-foot bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson. The statue depicts Jefferson standing facing the White House, ready to welcome his many visitors. The walls of the memorial feature words and phrases from many of his texts, so you can take some time to read them. The memorial stays open 24 hours a day and is even more beautiful when it’s lit up at night.
Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial sits on the western end of the Memorial Mall. It stays open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. This monument towers over the Reflecting Pool and honors President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president. This massive memorial is 190 feet long and 120 feet wide. The Colorado Yule marble construction sits 99 feet tall, and inside the chamber, the statue of Lincoln was sculpted by Daniel Chester French. Lincoln is seated facing the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. The inside walls of the memorial are engraved with the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address.
The memorial features recessed lighting to keep the monument lit at night and to make sure that each feature of the statue stays visible even after the sun goes down. It’s one of the best monuments to see at night.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors the men and women who served in the Vietnam War. This controversial war took the lives of over 58,000 Americans, and the memorial wall lists all of them. It’s the most visited memorial on the National Mall, with over five million people stopping by every year. The monument stays open 24 hours a day, with just the right amount of light at night to make it feel even more special.
The Vietnam Memorial also features the Three Servicemen statue, the In Memory plaque, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, and a flagpole with an etching of the five military branches that were active at the time of the war. The wall was dedicated on Veterans Day in 1982 and serves as a way never to forget the thousands of people who sacrificed their lives during the war.
World War II Memorial
The World War II Memorial honors the many Americans who served in World War II, those who sacrificed their lives, and the victory they achieved. This memorial first opened in 2004 on Memorial Day weekend. It was designed by Friedrich St. Florian, who was the chief of the Rhode Island School of Design. The memorial’s design divides it into two sides, the north and south, representing the relationship between the battlefront and the home front.
This memorial is particularly beautiful at night, complemented by the evening lights. The best time to visit is at twilight, so you have the opportunity to see the memorial come to life as the sun goes down and the lights come on.
The Washington Monument
Unlike many other memorials, the Washington Monument doesn’t stay open 24 hours a day, but it’s open until 5 p.m. during the winter so you can see it after dark. This monument was built to honor George Washington and was completed and opened in 1884. It was once the tallest building in the world, standing over 555 feet, and it’s still the tallest predominantly stone structure. The Washington Monument sits in the center of the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol.
You’ll need a ticket to go to the top of the Washington Monument, but you can see it from almost anywhere in the city. It lights up every night, making it even more spectacular no matter how close or far away from it you are.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial sits in downtown Washington D.C. in West Potomac Park. It honors and celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr., a leader in the civil rights movement. Dr. King fought tirelessly for racial equality, the oppressed, and the working class. The monument depicts Dr. King emerging from a mountain with deference to his “I Have a Dream” speech, where he talks about how we are able to hew out of the mountain of despair.
The monument features several of Dr. King’s quotes engraved on the statue and the south and north walls. The quotes carved into the walls are illuminated in a way that makes it feel like a sacred place. When you visit at night, you can experience the memorial in your own time without all the crowds. The lighting at this monument after dark creates an even more unique experience. There’s enough of it that you can still read all the quotes, but the soft illumination makes an amazing impact on the memorial.
All of these Washington D.C. monuments and memorials are a must-see when you visit the nation’s capital, and you can make your sightseeing tour even more unique if you visit them at night when they’re perfectly lit. To make sure you have reliable transportation around Washington D.C., visit us at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai, and we’ll show you our selection of new and used vehicles.
Lincoln Memorial Aglow by John Brighenti is licensed with CC BY 2.0
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