TOP 10 of 2023: Celebrating A Year Like No Other on the National Mall
TOP 10 of 2023: Celebrating A Year Like No Other on the National Mall
As we look back in the rearview, 2023 was a year like no other on the National Mall. The Trust for the National Mall was thrilled to deliver on milestone projects and new marquee programming and experiences that celebrate this American space and bring new vibrancy and diverse stories to the National Mall.
Please enjoy our 2023 Top Ten Milestones and Moments below, all made possible by your support. We can't wait to see what 2024 has in store...
1. Opening the Award-Winning Horse Stables on the Mall
The Trust led the design and construction of the new US Park Police Horse Stables and Wells Fargo Education Center, thanks to its generous supporters. Opened to the public in June, this milestone project now provides a new home for the horses and a new destination for visitors to learn about the horses and their history. The project has already garnered an award for excellence in construction.
2. Leading Beyond Granite, Bringing New Stories to the Mall
Beyond Granite brought new voices and stories to America's Civic Stage during the first curated art exhibition of its kind on the National Mall. Widely acclaimed by art critics, scholars, the media and local community leaders, this inaugural exhibition was generously funded by the Mellon Foundation and presented in partnership with the National Capital Planning Commission and the National Park Service. Stay tuned for announcements about future exhibitions.
3. Joined by First Lady Jill Biden at BALL for THE MALL
The event of the season returned beneath the monuments and under the stars on the National Mall, featuring First Lady Jill Biden, honoring our History, Heroes & Hope Award honorees Sheila Johnson and German Ambassador Emily Haber and celebrating WELLS FARGO with our Distinction in Corporate Service Award. BALL for THE MALL, our marquee annual gala celebrates and supports our work with the National Park Service to preserve and elevate the National Mall.
Make plans to join us for BALL for THE MALL May 8, 2024 here.
4. Hosting Department of Interior and Park Service Leaders for Monumental Receptions
The Trust was honored to be joined by Department of Interior Assistant Secretary Shannon Estenoz and National Park Service Director Chuck Sams during our summer and fall Monumental Rooftop Receptions—wonderful recognition for our work and partnership with the National Park Service during two special events to celebrate and thank our partners for their dedication and support for the National Mall.
5. Launching the Inaugural National Mall of Pickleball
America's fastest growing sport made its debut on America's Front Yard during National Mall of Pickleball. Presented in partnership with HUMANA, this free event brought the pros and celebrities out to play and spotlighted the National Mall as a space for all. Watch the highlight reel here. More than 7,000 joined us for the inaugural event. Even Katie Couric took to the courts to show she's got game.
6. Receiving Award Recognition for Expanded Volunteer Programming
The Trust was proud to receive an Award of Excellence from the DC Preservation League recognizing the impact of its growing volunteer programming on America's Front Yard. In 2023 the Trust and the National Park Service nearly doubled the number of volunteers helping NPS Rangers welcome and guide visitors—engaging with 450,000 visitors and ensuring a more vibrant Mall for all.
7. Expanding Educational Opportunity Through On-Site and Virtual Experiences
The Trust and the National Park Service expanded services to educate visitors on the National Mall at sites including the US Park Police Horse Stables and Education Center, which has welcomed more than 30,000 visitors since June, including scores of students. They also led nine virtual classroom events to help students across the U.S. connect to the Mall's history and significance—including a Veterans Day classroom event welcoming nearly 1,000 students.
8. Protecting the 3,700 Beloved Cherry Trees on the National Mall
The Trust advanced its critical mission to help the National Park Service care for each one of the iconic cherry trees on the Tidal Basin and ensure they bloom for generations to come. Importantly the Trust works to help NPS plant new trees each spring to ensure a vibrant pink spring bloom. in 2023, we raised private funding to help support and protect more than 40 trees throughout their lifetime.
9. Creating the March On: RUSTIN Audio Walking Tour
The Trust partnered with Netflix's RUSTIN film to create an innovative audio walking tour that lets visitors on the National Mall walk in the footsteps of history and the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The walking tour features history and stories from the original March, excerpts and music from the film, and tells the story of the watershed event that cemented the Mall as America's Civic Stage.
10. Garnering Media Recognition for our Shared Work with the National Park Service
In a year where the Trust for the National Mall and our partners at the National Park Service received elevated media attention for the projects and programs we delivered—including BALL for THE MALL, the grand opening of the Horse Stables and Education Center, Beyond Granite, National Mall of Pickleball, and Stumpy, the cherry-tree-that-could—we are leaving you with our favorite NEWS story of the year.