It’s no secret I’m a sucker for Instagrammable places when I visit a new city (check out my IG photo guides to Chicago, New York and Pittsburgh here.) I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite Instagrammable places in Washington DC so you can check these out when you’re visiting the National Mall.
When you hear the name “National Mall”, you probably think of an actual mall. You know the place you used to frequent in high school with your girlfriends? The National Mall in Washington DC is no such place. It’s home to some of the most famous monuments known across the globe and those monuments happen to make for some wonderful photo ops.
The US Capitol
The capitol building is located at the east end of the National Mall. It’s open inside for public tours at select times but I think the outside makes for some beautiful photos too! I’ve visited the capitol building in multiple seasons but I just loved the beautiful foliage I saw when I visited in the Fall.
Library of Congress
The library of Congress is a bit further east than the US Capitol at the very edge of the National Mall and is the oldest federal cultural institution in the U.S. It’s free to go inside to visit but only certain government officials are allowed to check out books. The 2nd story ceiling seen below was my favorite part of this building, the detail and colors are just amazing.
Lincoln Memorial
This national memorial honors the United State’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. You’ve probably seen this memorial in many TV shows and movies. It’s situated at the far West end of the National Mall but the surrounding area is typically full of people. You’ll want to get here early if you’re looking for a less crowded photo shoot.
Washington Monument
In my opinion the Washington Monument is the most iconic of all the buildings in the National Mall. Because of it’s height and location, it’s visible from almost any spot you’re standing in the mall and can also be seen from other areas downtown or around the city.
In between these iconic locations, the National Mall is filled with so many other museums, memorials and beautiful buildings. Other honorable mentions include: National Museum of American History, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, National Air & Space Museum & Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
That’s my short and sweet list of Insta worthy places. Visiting the National Mall soon or have any other spots to add to my list? Leave them in the comments below!
