National Mall and Memorial Parks

10/18/2026

Ground was broken on the George Mason Memorial on this day in 2000. Set among gardens near the Tidal Basin, the memorial honors a founding father whose words helped shape the nation’s founding documents.

In 1776, Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which helped shape the Bill of Rights. At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he refused to sign the Constitution because he believed it needed stronger protections for individual rights.

The memorial features a bronze statue of Mason by sculptor Wendy M. Ross, surrounded by inscriptions sharing his words about liberty and individual rights. Its quiet garden setting offers visitors a place to pause and learn about one of the many figures who helped shape the nation’s founding.

10/13/2026

“Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: ‘I served in the United States Navy.’” — President John F. Kennedy

Today marks 251 years since the founding of the United States Navy.

On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress established the Continental Navy, nearly a year before American independence. Since then, generations of sailors have served at sea and around the world, in times of war and peace.

The United States Navy Memorial, dedicated on Navy Day in 1987, honors those who have served. Its bronze reliefs tell stories from the Navy’s history, while the Lone Sailor stands atop a map of the world’s oceans, representing sailors past and present.

Visit the memorial along Pennsylvania Avenue to see these stories and honor the generations who have served.

NPS Photo.

10/11/2026

Born on this day in 1884, Eleanor Roosevelt is remembered at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial for her decades of public service. Eleanor served as First Lady during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. After his death, she continued her work in public life and served as the first United States delegate to the United Nations.

At the FDR Memorial, a bronze statue of Eleanor stands in an alcove overlooking the Tidal Basin. Her statue is one of several features throughout the memorial that tell the story of the Roosevelt era and the people who shaped it.

NPS photo.

10/09/2026

A 12-minute elevator ride to the top of the world’s tallest building? In 1888, that was the latest thing in Washington.

The Washington Monument has had an elevator from the very beginning. During construction, a steam powered elevator helped workers move marble up the monument. Once construction was complete, the elevator was converted for passengers.

On October 9, 1888, at 1:16 p.m., 32 visitors took its first public ride to the 500-foot level. The Washington Evening Star reported that they were “packed together like sardines in a box” for the 12-minute journey.

The elevator was an instant hit. The next day, visitors waited hours for their turn, and within its first few days, 400 to 550 people were making the trip daily. From the top, they could see across the District of Columbia and into Maryland and Virginia, a view still enjoyed by visitors today.

Now, the Washington Monument still takes visitors 500 feet up, but the ride is a little faster. The modern elevator makes the trip in about 70 seconds.

Want to see the view for yourself? Get tickets and learn more at nps.gov/wamo.

NPS photo of the Washington Monument towering above the National Mall.

10/08/2026

Sergeant Alvin York was one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War I, but he did not expect to become a soldier. Raised in rural Tennessee, York initially claimed conscientious objector status when he was drafted into the U.S. Army.

On October 8, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France, York’s unit came under heavy gun fire. After several soldiers were wounded, York took charge of the group and used the marksmanship skills he had developed hunting in Tennessee to help capture the German position. He ultimately brought 132 German soldiers back to the American lines as prisoners.

York received the Medal of Honor for his actions and became one of the most famous American soldiers of the war.

His story is just one of the many individual stories represented at the World War I Memorial, which honors the more than 4 million Americans who served during the Great War, including the more than 116,000 who died. The next time you visit, take a moment to look at the sculptures and inscriptions that tell the stories of the Americans who served. NPS photos.

10/05/2026

Today’s homework: thank a teacher.

National parks are places where students can learn about history by standing where it happened, explore science by observing nature, and discover stories that help us better understand the people and places that shaped our world.

Behind those experiences are teachers helping students ask questions, make connections, and learn about the world around them.

On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the educators who inspire curiosity, encourage exploration and remind us that learning can happen just about anywhere. (Including places with a really good view.)

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm

NPS Image

10/05/2026

Every day from October 12 to November 5, 2026, visit Mission San José's granary during park hours (9am-5pm) to view the mission descendant community's family ofrendas.

Ofrendas are an essential part of Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. They are also called "altares" or altars, but not for worship. These altars are not only full of family pictures, but of symbols and meaning, honoring the ancestors who have passed, and offering them items of the celebration such a "pan de mu**to" and marigold flowers.

NPS Photo

10/05/2026

Born on this day in 1959, Maya Lin is the architect and artist behind one of the most recognizable memorials on the National Mall.

In 1981, at just 21 years old, Lin won the national competition to design the Vietnam Veterans Memorial while studying at Yale University. Her design was selected from more than 1,400 entries.

Lin envisioned two black granite walls set into the earth, meeting in a wide V. More than 58,000 names are inscribed chronologically across the walls. The reflective granite allows visitors to see the names alongside their own reflections, while flowers, photographs, medals, military dog tags and more are often left at the wall in memory of those who served.

NPS photo of the illuminated Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall at dusk.

10/04/2026

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

And we’re rather glad there are national parks to experience them in. Fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy the spectacular spectacle (say that five times fast) of changing leaves. There is plenty of room for imagination when you find yourself surrounded by forests painted in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. In our experience, you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. So consider this your invitation to find a little wonder, a little enchantment, and perhaps a kindred spirit among the trees.

Forests, woods, and shrublands in national parks put on their autumn colors from September through December. There’s a whole world of beauty waiting to be explored!

Image 1: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Image 2: Great Smoky Mountains NP
Image 3: Great Sand Dunes NPP
Image 4: Rocky Mountain National Park
Image 5: TheodoreRooseveltNPS

10/03/2026

Look up this fall and you might catch a glimpse of one of the National Mall’s busiest travelers! Bird migration is underway and millions of birds are moving south across the region, with more expected to pass through in the weeks ahead.

The National Mall is part of their journey. The park’s green spaces provide places for birds to rest and refuel as they make their way south for the winter. We’ve documented more than 150 species of birds in the park, including migratory songbirds.

Migration will continue through November, so keep an eye (and an ear!) out while you’re visiting the Mall.

NPS photo of a barn swallow at Constitution Gardens.

10/03/2026

“On October 3rd, he asked what day it was.” — Cady Heron

It’s October 3rd.

October is kind of a big deal around here. The autumn months splash many national parks with a rich array of fall colors, while cooler temperatures have wildlife getting ready for winter. Some are migrating. Some are gathering food. Some are putting on extra layers.

Same, honestly.

So whether you’re here for the foliage, the wildlife, or simply to judge the leaves on their color palette, national parks are a pretty fetch place to experience fall. Fetch? We’re making it happen.

And if you want to keep up with what’s happening in parks this season, you can find more ways to connect with your national parks at the link below.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/fall-season.htm

Image: Red Osier Dogwood leaves stand out against aspen trunks at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. NPS/Patrick Myers

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Pennsylvania Avenue. Maryland Avenue. Virginia Avenue. Massachusetts Avenue. New Jersey Avenue. Washington DC has a lot of streets named for states. But have you ever wondered why?

When L’Enfant designed the plan for DC, he laid out a grid of numbered and lettered streets with a series of diagonal avenues layered over it. Many of those avenues were named for the states of the new Union. The avenues named for the Mid-Atlantic states were generally placed near the center of the city, while New England states were farther north and southern states farther south. But as new states joined the Union, the plan became harder to follow. New avenues were added and existing streets were renamed, leaving DC with a collection of state avenues scattered throughout the city.

Pennsylvania Avenue was designed as a connection between the Capitol and the President’s House. It remains one of Washington’s defining streets and is part of the National Mall's landscape today. More than 200 years after L’Enfant drew the first plan, the avenue still cuts diagonally through the city, connecting two of DC’s most recognizable places.

Photos of Pennsylvania Avenue looking towards the United States Capitol, NPS photo by Carol Highsmith and The Library of Congress photo from 1897.

10/02/2026

Wherever military life takes you, there’s likely a park adventure nearby.

Active-duty military members, Veterans, and Gold Star families can get a free America the Beautiful Pass, providing access to national parks and federal recreation sites across the country.

Active-duty military families can also find free events, nearby outdoor opportunities, and resources for exploring national parks, public lands, and waterways through the Military Families Outdoors Program, wherever military life takes them. Visit: go.nps.gov/mfo

Whether you’re PCSing, exploring near your duty station, or looking for a weekend adventure, your next park visit may be closer than you think.

NPS Photo: Rangers at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park recently teamed up with Blue Star Families and community partners for a day of fishing, outdoor fun, and family time at Fletchers Cove.

Blue Star Families Defense Public Health

10/01/2026

Fat Bear Week has officially lumbered to a close.

What a week. As they say, a journey of roughly 3,000 to 4,500 calories begins with a single salmon. Something like that. There might be some steps involved too.

In the end, 16 bears entered. Bear 89 “Backpack” became champion. Talk about the hunger games. And several ate their way into our hearts. Figuratively. And thousands of us humans spent an unreasonable amount of time judging bears for being excellent at being, well, bears.

It was a week of big bellies, bigger appetites, and absolutely no regrets. We shared some science, learned about the Alaskan ecosystem, stood around for hours watching large mammals eat, and found multiple way to incorporate “chonk” in everyday vocabulary.

Now the bears have more important things to do, such as eating then sleeping, a bit more eating, sleeping, and finally preparing to sleep after eating. As for the rest of us, we all return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Must we?

We must.

We will miss you, Fat Bear Week. Until next year: stay chunky, stay hungry, and remember: there’s always room for one more salmon.

NPS Images

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, it's time for Chunky Puppy Day! Tune in to the Puppy Cam tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 2pm AK time to find out how big the America's Best Idea litter got this summer.

How much do you think they weigh now? Share your guesses in the comments below.

NPS Photo: Graupel from the Weather litter during a weigh-in last year.

09/30/2026

What would you put in a time capsule if no one could open it for another 250 years?

Earlier this week, a time capsule was placed near the Washington Monument. The items inside tell a story about the connections between the United States and the United Kingdom, including letters, essays and soil from Sulgrave Manor, the ancestral home of George Washington’s family in England. The capsule connects Washington, DC with London, as a matching time capsule was placed beneath the statue of George Washington in London’s Trafalgar Square last year.

The capsule will remain underground until July 4, 2276, the nation’s 500th anniversary.

NPS photos.

09/30/2026

This is the ideal marmot body. You may not like it. You may not understand it. But this is what peak performance looks like.

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, we’re returning to our regularly scheduled programming: other fat mammals.

The tundra-dwelling yellow-bellied marmots have been preparing for hibernation for the last couple of months. Since marmots spend more than half their lives hibernating, they’ve developed some impressive adaptations for surviving the winter:

✅ First, they’ve been building up healthy fat reserves (sound familiar? Bears. Us too, but that’s another post) to sustain them for up to eight months. Basically, a nice winter savings account.

✅ When they finally enter hibernation, they become true hibernators, slowing their heart rate from around 200 beats per minute to as low as 30. It’s an impressive energy-saving strategy.

✅ Speaking of saving, they also save on utilities by cuddling up with the colony in a communal burrow. Because heating is expensive, and roommates are the answer. Was that on the lease?

NPS Photo: A rotund marmot standing on a rock at Rocky Mountain National Park

09/29/2026

Fat Bear Week has us thinking about an important question: Have there ever been bears on the National Mall? As it turns out, yes!

In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson sent Lieutenant Zebulon Pike to explore the western frontier. When Pike returned to Washington in 1807, he deposited two grizzly bear cubs on President Jefferson’s doorstep. They lived in an enclosure on the White House grounds where curious visitors could see them until Jefferson arranged for the bears to be moved to a permanent home.

Nearly 80 years later, a bear was part of the Smithsonian’s Department of Living Animals. The collection included bears, eagles and other North American animals, including the bison pictured. The animals quickly became an attraction and became the foundation for what would eventually become the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park.

While you won’t find a brown bear fishing for salmon in the Tidal Basin, over in Alaska, Fat Bear Week is underway. Vote for your favorite fat bear and learn more from our friends over at Katmai National Park & Preserve.

Photo of two American bison behind the Smithsonian Castle circa 1886–1889, courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Archives.