Places to Visit in Washington, DC This Week for Presidents Day

Did you know that Presidents Day is not on the same date every year? What was formerly celebrated on February 22nd, George Washington’s birthday, every year was changed to be celebrated on the third Monday of every February due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill in 1968 which moved various federal holidays to Mondays. Who doesn’t love a three day weekend?

Another fact to note is that the holiday is often incorrectly spelled with an apostrophe before the “s” in the word “Presidents”. It is an extremely common mistake that a lot of people don’t know about. It does not seem incorrect and you will commonly see both versions. The reason there is no apostrophe is because the holiday does not honor only one president but multiple. A reason for this confusion likely comes from the fact that the holiday is often seen as a day to celebrate just our first president’s birthday. That being said, the plural possessive form of the word (Presidents’) should actually be used, however “Presidents” with no apostrophe is a popular and well-accepted alternative.

These fun facts about Presidents Day are certainly enjoyable, and so is having a long weekend and wonderful reason to celebrate in the nation’s capital. Presidents Day is a day to celebrate the leaders of our country, and there are multiple beautiful monuments and memorials honoring them in DC. Presidents Day weekend is the perfect time to go sightseeing in the heart of the city. Here are some sites we recommend you see this Presidents Day.

The National Mall

The National Mall is a national park in the downtown area of Washington, DC. It is surrounded by paths and landscaping, magnificent memorials and statues, and art galleries and museums. Many of the Smithsonian museums and art institutions are located in and around the mall. Walking along the reflecting pool surrounded by the nation’s most iconic artwork and monuments is something you don’t want to miss. For more information about the National Mall, check out the National Park Service’s webpage with useful details about the landmark.

Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial honors the sixteenth president of the United States Abraham Lincoln who guided the country through the Civil War and contributed to the freedom of over four million enslaved people. The exterior of the memorial is inspired by Greek architecture with 87 steps extending from the edge of the reflecting pool to the main chamber. This grand memorial is where the “I Have A Dream Speech” occurred, where Marian Anderson performed, as well as the location for many other historical moments. Inside of the memorial chamber sits a striking statue of Abraham Lincoln with inscriptions from Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and Gettysburg Address surrounding him on the north and south walls. Words and pictures do not do this memorial justice, and it is definitely a sight to behold in person. Learn more about the Lincoln Memorial here.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is located in West Potomac Park between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorial. This memorial honors the 32nd president of the United States and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt who were in office during the depth of the Great Depression and World War II and contributed to restoring faith to Americans. The memorial is a magnificent site that you walk through to discover more bits of history. The memorial includes sculptures, tactile elements, and granite engravings of twenty two quotes from Roosevelt’s presidency from times of the Great Depression, the New Deal, and the Second World War. Learn more to plan your visit on the National Park Services website here.

Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is an over 555 foot tall building built to commemorate the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army outlasting British armies during the Revolutionary War and the first President of the United States George Washington. It is the tallest stone structure in the world and is made from marble, bluestone gneiss, and granite. The monument standing in the center of the nation’s capital is often compared to President Washington as standing tall and being in no one else’s shadow. This monument is quite the magnificent site from the ground, and visitors can also get tickets in advance to ride the elevator to get to the top. Learn about how to visit and get your tickets to get to the 500 foot observation deck here.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

The Jefferson Memorial is located along the Tidal Basin and honors the third president of the United States. The building that hosts a bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson within it is a circular, open-air structure featuring a shallow dome that is supported by twenty six columns. The statue of Jefferson shows him holding the Declaration of Independence, and there are also quotations from Jefferson’s writings engraved in the walls. Read more about the Thomas Jefferson Memorial here.

Tour the Monuments

Take a tour of the National Mall to see all of these iconic monuments and memorials honoring the nations’s presidents. If you’re looking for a fun and educational way to explore the city’s iconic and historical sites and learn more about the history of the country and its presidents, check out one of our narrated golf cart tours.

These tours are a fun and stress-free way to visit all of the popular sites in DC without needing to create a plan or research on your own. Capitol Express Tours is a local business that will take you to see the iconic monuments and memorials within the city on our narrated tour down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the Capitol and through the heart of the National Mall where you can see various monumental landmarks and memorials like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the US Capitol Building. Our tours allow you to explore and learn about sites that depict the interesting details of the nation’s capital with opportunities to customize your tour as well. Book your tour now!