National World War II Memorial
National World War II Memorial
National World War II Memorial
4.5
About
Consisting of 56 pillars that represent the U.S. states and territories, this impressive national monument honors all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
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The area
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Neighborhood: Cleveland Park
Upper Northwest in Washington DC is a haven for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. The neighborhood boasts the expansive Rock Creek Park, where trails for hiking and biking, picnic spots, and even a planetarium await discovery. The historic Georgetown district, known for its elegant 18th-century architecture, is just a stone's throw away and offers a myriad of dining options from upscale bistros to quaint cafes. Public transportation, including the Metro and numerous bus routes, makes navigating to other parts of the city a breeze. The serene ambiance of Upper Northwest, interspersed with cultural attractions like the National Cathedral and the Smithsonian National Zoo, makes it a delightful destination for a laid-back city escape.
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- PaperbackTacoma, Washington5 contributionsThis is an amazing tribute to all those Americans who contributed to the defeat of Nazi Germany, fascist Italy and Imperial Japan in the Second World War. Built in a massive stone oval around a large fountain pool it is a dignified and impressive place that you experience as you walk around and explore. If you time your visit for sunset you will experience amazing views of the sun setting behind the Lincoln Memorial to the west and reflecting off the Washington to the east, as the lights come on and illuminate the War memorial fountains and walkways.Visited October 2024Traveled with familyWritten October 19, 2024
- AcinetoAuckland Central, New Zealand24,166 contributionsThe memorial is located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Monument. If walking from the Washington Memorial, you pass it before you get to the Lincoln Reflection Pool. The memorial is quite large and does have a really beautiful fountain in the middle. It was one of the few which were still going in winter. There were plenty of plaques and inscriptions along the walls. There were two towers for the Pacific and Atlantic areas. There were also metal wreaths lining the memorial in a circle, each representing a state or a country. The rear of the memorial has another water feature showing the price of war. Due to its location, it gives very nice views of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It is worth stopping by if you are walking between the two memorials.Visited December 2024Traveled soloWritten January 27, 2025
- Rachel & Andy392 contributionsVisited: 08/07/2023 Stunning memorial to WW2. Lots of architectural detail in the design, it names all the countries involved, and the fountains are beautiful. It's a really peaceful area commemorating the horrors it took to get there. Lots of signs, you can dip your feet, but no swimming or walking through the waters (both humans and pets) - it's disrespectful to the memorial and disrupts other visitors.Visited July 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten June 14, 2024
- Ddb2422Arlington, Virginia714 contributionsThis is another location that I had not taken advantage of going to while living here in DC. On the day we visited I was able to meet two WWII veterans who were visiting the location as part of an honor flight. It was awesome to hear their stories and discuss their amazing lives. I would highly recommend visiting this location.Visited May 2024Traveled on businessWritten May 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
10,228 reviews
Excellent
7,530
Very good
2,106
Average
479
Poor
87
Terrible
28
helenandpaul13
Worcester, UK1,700 contributions
Jul 2022
We passed through here on our way down to the Lincoln memorial and we also saw it at night as part of the evening tour. It's built in two parts detailing the Atlantic and Pacific theatre from WW2. In the middle is a fountain that people can dip their feet into. The obelisks making up the monument contain all fifty states and those other countries like Puerto Rico and the Philippines who also took up arms. They are all joined with sculptured knots showing the binding of forces together and presenting the USA as having strength through unity. This really is a beautiful monument and just as impressive as the Lincoln Memorial that it faces at the other end of the separate large water feature which you are not allowed to dip your feet in. It also looks great in the evening with the fountain in the middle.
Written July 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin B
Mount Juliet, TN4,325 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
The World War II Memorial is a gorgeous memorial that's located at the end of the reflecting pool across from The Lincoln Memorial (near The Washington Monument). It had a fountain in the middle and is flanked by large pillars for the Atlantic and Pacific theaters and smaller pillars for all of the states. It's shocking to think that this memorial was only completed in 2004 as it feels much older and feels like it was always there. It's one of my favorite memorials and one that I would visit every time I was in D.C.
Written January 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
moodblu
West Valley City, UT1,652 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
When we went to the World War II memorial on our US History tour, I was getting tired out and didn’t enjoy it as much as I ought to have. There is a beautiful tall monument for each state, in a circle around a very pretty fountain. There was a beautiful waterfall feature, and a long wall of stars representing 100 war deaths for each star. It wasn’t the best picture taking as it was shortly before sunset. The memorial was very nicely done, and I was glad to have gone there.
Written May 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa W
Oronoco, MN3 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
We paid the extra 5 dollars per person for a guided your instead of a self guided your. I highly recommend. Our guide was Don and he was outstanding. While the planes and museum pieces themselves are worth a visit, Don's knowledge and experience provided historical and technical context for each exhibit. We had two teenagers with us and they were both enthralled . It is well worth the time and money.
Written July 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dadofbob
London, UK27 contributions
May 2022
2st May. Our 3rd stop on the National Mall and this is a truly beautiful memorial that leaves you full of gratitude for the amazing men and women that served and fought during WW2. We were fortunate enough to be wandering around the memorial whilst there were a lot of veterans there, a very humbling experience, and nice to see the veterans being so proud and having their photos taken in front of their respective states.
Written June 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris D
Athens, GA44 contributions
Apr 2022
A tribute to those who served in WWII and the Greatest Generation. The memorial is a sprawling area with large granite arches that represent the states and territories of the USA. As some have noted, there are little things around the memorial to find (such as the “killroys”).
The downside to the memorial is not anything to do with the memorial itself, but rather with the visitors. Inevitably, there will be several visitors wading, playing in, or dangling their feet in the water. They do this despite numerous signs right next to it explicitly stating not to.
The memorial is situated between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial and is at the end of the reflecting pool for the Washington Monument.
Worth a stop and a little time reflecting on the sacrifices of those who served in WWII, but please respect those sacrifices and stay out of the water.
The downside to the memorial is not anything to do with the memorial itself, but rather with the visitors. Inevitably, there will be several visitors wading, playing in, or dangling their feet in the water. They do this despite numerous signs right next to it explicitly stating not to.
The memorial is situated between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial and is at the end of the reflecting pool for the Washington Monument.
Worth a stop and a little time reflecting on the sacrifices of those who served in WWII, but please respect those sacrifices and stay out of the water.
Written May 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
allezgently
St. Petersburg, FL190 contributions
Apr 2023
Some might be tempted to walk quickly down the ramp to the fountain area. Resist that temptation and examine the bronze bas-reliefs installed along the way. The artists have presented the many facets of the war in detail on these panels. Then walk the corridors under the 4 parts of the circle surrounding the fountain. The memorial reminds us of the scope and scale of the conflict that changed the world forever.
Written May 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Baobab Republic
Bangkok, Thailand1,495 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
We can only know about World War II through books, movies, and media. But when present at this US National World War II Memorial, an emotion is also very uplifting. We wish peace to come to every home, every person, every country.
Written April 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mom777
Tampa, FL124 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
There is so much to learn about this memorial before you visit. You can google the facts, so much went into building this, there are several significant reasons about how and why they designed it. My grandfather from Pennsylvania served in the Pacific so I made sure to take a pic in front of the Pennsylvania part of the memorial while I was there.
Written March 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne O
Kennesaw, GA3,813 contributions
Apr 2022
This is an expansive monument commemorating the World War II theaters of war and the states and territories involved. Quotes from wartime leaders are engraved on the walls. It is beautifully done and reminds us of what an undertaking it was to overcome the evil that existed at that time.
Written May 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We've been planning a trip to the outter banks for 8month, was planning to stop in DC for the first few days of that trip so the kids could see the monuments. With all the "unrest" wasn't sure that it was safe, or that the monuments had been cleaned up after being defaced recently. Has anyone been recently? Whats the situation? safe for families with kids?
Written July 7, 2020
Unrest? Only unrest on the mall lately is the ducks in the reflecting pool, let me warn you, they are aggressive! Don't feed them. Otherwise, it's situation normal here.
One word of caution, it is hot, humid, and sunny. The monuments are impactful day or night, but without museums open due to COVID, there aren't as many places to rest and recharge, so bring water.
Written July 8, 2020
About how much time do you suggest to visit this memorial and any museum attached to it?
Written March 17, 2019
Hello!
Thank you for your question...
I would suggest 2 hours to enjoy the National World War II memorial. It is a rather large area with lots to read, great photo opportunities and a great place to relax and enjoy the day.
It can also be viewed in a shorter time frame if your day is starting to get busy.
Written March 20, 2019
What is the best Kindle guide to all the memorials? There are quite a few out there. Thanks!
Written December 17, 2017
The "Washington DC National Mall, Monuments and Memorials Walking Guide (Washington DC City Walking Guide Series) Kindle Edition" is a decent download for just $3.99. You may want to give it a try.
Written December 23, 2017
Wilson K
Franklin, Tennessee
How long would you recommend a family with young teenagers budget to spend at the World War 2 Memorial? Thanks!
Written April 28, 2017
Depends on how much you or the teens are interested in WW II. You may spend 5 minutes or half an hour; totally up to you
Like others have said it's outdoors between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial and also near the Vietnam and Korean War memorials which, to me, are much more impressive. Several of the Smithsonian galleries are in the same area and when I was there in February there were food trucks to suit every taste in the area. Enjoy your visit😊
Written April 28, 2017
I believe there is, when i visited there was a lot of visitors in wheel chairs, and good disabled access to the memorial. The veterans in question had come by coach, but i am sure there was car parking there as well.
Written May 25, 2016
Is it safe for a woman alone at night? Can I place flowers at the Pacific Theatre area for my father?
Written May 18, 2016
The area is fairly well lit at night and has a number of people there, that being said, there are lots of dark areas nearby with many parts of the memorial blocked from view from the outside, so, unfortunately the beset I can give you is a "maybe" not being a woman. One approach might be to take the Moonlight Memorial tour from Union Station around. It stops at the Lincoln Memorial which allows people 15 minutes to run (you'll have to run) over to the WWII memorial.
As far as flowers, on my visit last week, there were many flowers and wreathes, generally laid out next to the state marker. Each state has one, so that might be a nice place to put your father's flowers.
Written May 18, 2016
where do you get off the Metro in DC to see the WWII Memorial, if coming from Alexandria?
Written September 14, 2015
Yes, get off at the Smithsonian Station and head left. You can see the Washington Monument from the station and just head toward it.
Written September 14, 2015
As will all the memorials and monuments in the Nation's capitol, they belong to the people, so there is no charge. Go, enjoy, and pay homage those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Written June 8, 2015
National World War II Memorial was made of Construction Material like Granite, Bronze, Water and mainly by Memories of the incident. Main purpose is to recall the contribution of Nation in the incident.
Written May 6, 2015
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