Staff Picks for best Instagram photo spots on the National Mall
Staff Picks for best Instagram photo spots on the National Mall
Spring is upon us once again in Washington D.C.! We eagerly await the cherry blossom blooms and the revival of our #BloomCam to watch the blooming season unfold before our eyes. So many beautiful photos are shared out from the National Mall to capture this great season with perfect weather, great lighting, and a majestic background all around you. While we stay safe at home, we can enjoy the stunning views of the National Mall through the amazing photos that are captured.
One of the perks of living and working so close the National Mall is that our staff knows every corner of this National Park and where you can find the best photo spots for Instagram!
Some are classic photos spots that everyone should take on their trip to the Mall - like the steps of the Lincoln gazing out at the Reflecting Pool or the base of the Washington Monument where you can put your feet up and pretend to be sitting on the statue. Other spots, though, are hidden gems that you may have overlooked if you didn’t know they were there. Hidden among the trees next to the reflecting pool are great spots like the District of Columbia War Memorial featuring its beautiful classical architecture temple, and the horse stables (soon to be renovated by the Trust!) where you can visit the horses up close and capture photos with them.
What are your favorite spots on the National Mall? You can share your photos and stories with us HERE on social media with the hashtag #MyNationalMallStory and be featured on our website!
Check out our Staff Picks for best Instagram photo spots on the National Mall.
Photo: Erin Plant
“My favorite spot on the National Mall to take photos is the George Mason Memorial. In the Spring the site comes alive as everything blossoms. You have the view of cherry blossoms by the Tidal Basin, and everything is encircled by yellow forsythia shrubs. The Washington Monument can be seen in the background behind bright pink Magnolia flowers, giving a unique angle and a beautiful foreground. Bight colors, plenty of sunshine, iconic monuments from unique views, and a site bursting with life - George Mason has everything you need for a perfect photo!”
“On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, just above the inscription where Martin Luther King, Jr. stood, looking out onto the reflecting pool”
“My favorite spot on the National Mall to take photos is at the bottom of the Washington Monument. Sure, you can take the basic photo of feet propped up so it looks like you’re resting on the WaMo, but you can also take photos and have the LKH, or WWII Memorial, or Reflection Pool, or Lincoln Memorial, or even the Capitol in the your background. Just one spot can capture so much history in so many directions.”
“Personally, I love all photos of and around the Tidal Basin, especially looking out from the Jefferson Memorial. The beauty is doubled when the cherry trees are in bloom.”
“Top of the Washington Monument. The Best view in town! ”
“Nothing beats the top of the Washington Monument and 360 degree views! My Second spot is the right side lower stairs of the Lincoln Memorial, where you can capture the reflecting pool with the Washington Monument, and it’s mirror reflection, along with a peek of the Capitol in the far back. It’s the image on my cellphone screen – powerful! My third is from the side of the Lincoln Memorial, while the sun is setting, looking through the columns - towards the Washington Monument - with the Monument side by side with the columns - shows the grandeur of Lincoln from that angle.
”
“There are so many, but if forced to choose just one: District of Columbia War Memorial”
“The National Mall and its memorials seem take on a greater significance after dark. The Korean War Memorial and its 19 statues of service members is especially moving at night.”
Photo: US Navy Memorial
“While technically not on the National Mall, one of my favorite spots is the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle. They’ve created a place that is peaceful, but so vibrant with colors. The horticulturists planned a garden that is blooming all year round so there is always a beautiful landscape to photograph!”