George Washington Memorial Parkway

Join us as we officially kick off our Summer Concert Series at the Netherlands Carillon! The Netherlands Carillon is a musical instrument located just outside Arlington National Cemetery. Volunteer carillonneurs will play live music on the carillon and National Park Rangers will offer activities for all ages. Enjoy free music and sweeping views of our nation's capital! Music starts at 6pm!

For more information, visit: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/carillon_concerts.htm

Today marks our 96th birthday! On May 29, 1930, Congress established the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The parkway runs along the Potomac River, through two states (Virginia and Maryland), and Washington, D.C.

More than a parkway! The parkway preserves several important historic sites and monuments like Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial and Clara Barton National Historic Site. It is also home to hundreds of animal species including birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish. Do you have a favorite park or memorial along the parkway? Share below!

Notes from our Running Ranger about Memorial Day....

Running north beyond Gravely Point, I came upon Long Bridge, and it set my mind to thinking about Memorial Day and the Civil War. I thought of those Union soldiers, some of whom lie at nearby Arlington National Cemetery.

American poet, Walt Whitman captured the retreat of the Union army after the battle of Manassas when he wrote: . . . "regiments, swarming wagons, artillery - all the men with this coating of murk and sweat and rain, now recoiling back, pouring over the Long Bridge . . .returning to Washington baffled, humiliated, panic-struck." They were down, but not out.

Their perseverance and better leadership turned the tide four years later and the Union won. Memorial Day was born from the grief of those lost during the Civil War and later expanded to honor the fallen from all wars.

National Park Service
#250

Notes from our Running Ranger....

Dawn at Roaches Run. This is a small oasis along George Washington Memorial Parkway.

Louis J. Halle described it in the 1940s in his book "Spring in Washington." "Roaches Run is a marshy lagoon trapped between the National Airport (now Reagan National) on one side, and the railway tracks on the other. Ducks and gulls and herons have remained faithful to it, despite low-roaring airplanes and smoke-breathing locomotives. They are accustomed to these dragons and pterodactyls, regarding them not."

Today, the lagoon is a sanctuary for waterfowl. I found a sense of tranquility here only seconds after leaving the busy parkway. Good place to birdwatch or look out over the water when you eat your lunch.

We are excited to introduce our "Running Ranger"!

And yes! He runs! He loves to run both as a Ranger and on his personal time! During his runs within George Washington Memorial Parkway, he sees many amazing things, along with having some interesting thoughts!

We thought it would be fun to share these sights and sounds with you!! So here it is, the 1st post from the Running Ranger!!

Are you a runner and want that extra "lift" when going the distance?

Take the historic and scenic Mount Vernon Trail! Run northbound by Gravely Point where it crosses in front of Reagan National Airport.

When the planes take off they seem close! I thought I'd have to duck from the landing gear, but the thunderous roar and ground vibration give you enough energy to put on a burst of speed and power through another mile!

National Park Service
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The National Park Service is getting Washington, D.C. ready for the 250th anniversary this summer! Here specialist electricians from Cuyahoga Valley National Park are repairing lights on Lady Bird Johnson Park near the Columbia Island Marina. This week they will be repairing more lights at the US Marine Corps War Memorial. As you travel around Washington, D.C., notice the widespread restoration efforts to fountains, monuments and statues!

Our night program, originally scheduled for tonight, has been postponed to June 11th due to weather concerns

Benjamin Banneker, Astronomy and the founding of Washington, DC
June 11, 8:00pm-10:00pm
Jones Point Park
More Information: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=BD662205-C307-8157-5AE98A31A68DBC25

Help the National Park Service battle graffiti at Fort Hunt Park! You can join in the fight against the vandalism by reporting graffiti and suspicious activity to the U.S. Park Police at (202) 379-4877 or [email protected]

National Park Service rangers, preservation specialists and maintenance crews worked in April 2026 to clean up and remove graffiti at Fort Hunt Park. For years, the historic 19th-century concrete batteries at the park have been the target of vandalism.

Thanks to the hard work of National Park Service professionals, Fort Hunt Park is once again looking its best. The cleanup effort helps ensure the park remains a clean and welcoming place for the thousands of people who visit and use the park each year. Continued stewardship and public support in preventing vandalism will help preserve the park’s historic character and appearance for future visitors.

Learn more about the cleanup efforts and how you can help keep Fort Hunt Park beautiful:

https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/national-park-service-battles-graffiti-at-fort-hunt-park.htm

that over thousands of years the Potomac River has carved out the 15-mile-long Potomac Gorge which stretches from Great Falls to Georgetown and drops from 140 to 10 feet above sea level?

The fall line, an area of geological transition between the Piedmont Plateau and the Atlantic Coastal Plain is located within the Potomac Gorge.

As a result, the area is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. The area contains 60 rare plants, including many spring blooms that are showing their colors now!

Photo (NPS): Wide river surrounded by gray and black rocks and green plants

Great Falls Park George Washington Memorial Parkway National Park Service