Trust for the National Mall

Fall on the Mall is almost here. Planning a visit? Despite the federal government shutdown, open-air sites on the National Mall remain open. And although National Park Service Rangers and our Volunteers-In-Parks can't be there to help guide you, our newly launched National Mall Gateway is here to lead the way. Inspired by America's upcoming 250th anniversary, the Gateway delivers tips on how to tour, insider info, historic facts and popular "Mall Moments" going behind the marble and stone to tell the history of our nation through the National Mall. Built for teachers, students, tourists and families, the Gateway extends the reach of the National Mall inviting you to explore history from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, or from your classroom or kitchen table anywhere in the world. Including exclusive 360-degree video tours that let you almost reach out and touch the monuments and memorials. Explore the National Mall Gateway: https://lnkd.in/eKn-FfM7 Thank you to our generous supporters who make our mission possible with the National Park Service to restore, preserve and enrich the experience of all who visit the National Mall. The National Mall Gateway was made possible by our lead partner HP, and with additional support by GE Aerospace. Photo credit to William D. Moore.

Thank you to Washington Business Journal for spotlighting the Trust's new National Mall Gateway and the ways it makes the National Mall, the greatest symbol of American independence and freedom, more accessible to all. "We decided we wanted to leverage this moment in history to bring attention to the National Mall." The National Mall Gateway is a digital platform built to help visitors experience the monuments and memorials and the history behind these iconic sites—whether they’re standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial or visiting virtually from their classroom or kitchen table. The Gateway was built with the Semiquincentennial coming in 2026 in mind. But the current government shutdown, which is impacting the National Mall, presents an opportunity for the Gateway to fill the gap.  There are no National Park Service rangers or Trust volunteers on site to guide and educate the public, and indoor educational sites are closed. The Gateway helps visitors plan their visit and get all of the facts onsite, or experience 360-degree views of sites that are closed.  Thank you to our lead partner HP. for making Gateway possible and GE Aerospace for additional funding. Contact us to learn how you can support the expansion of the Gateway as it welcomes, guides and educates visitors on the National Mall and around the world...for America’s 250th and generations to come. Read an excerpt of the story here: https://lnkd.in/eyytuwG4. And be sure to visit the National Mall Gateway, no matter where you are, at gateway.nationalmall.org. 

Teachers! Educators! Are you ready to TEACH AMERICA’S 250TH? Join us tomorrow for a NEW series of Teach 250: Inspiring a More Perfect Union. 🇺🇸 As the historic Semiquincentennial draws near, our Teach 250 teacher workshop series will share new ways to explore, honor and dive into America’s history as we commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Join the Trust for the National Mall, the National Park Service and Destination DC for this special series. Tag your favorite history teacher below! We’ll kick off by highlighting the oldest built structure on the National Mall, the Lockkeeper’s House, which has stood as witness for nearly 200 years of changes on America’s Front Yard. And we’ll introduce the National Mall Gateway, our brand-new digital education platform that brings the history and meaning of the monuments and memorials to life for visitors, both on site, and from classrooms virtually from anywhere in the world. RSVP at https://lnkd.in/ep-kRAvZ. 

Happy German-American Day! Today we commemorate the storied friendship between the United States and Germany and spotlight the German-American Friendship Garden on the National Mall. We also celebrate our partnership with the Embassy of Germany in Washington, D.C. and the National Park Service that helps restore and care for this space for generations. Thanks to the embassy and leading German companies, including Volkswagen, the Trust restored the German-American Friendship Garden and its marquee fountains, then reopened the space with an international celebration in 2022. Since being dedicated in 1988, the garden can be found on the National Mall between the White House Ellipse and the Washington Monument. Thank you also to Bayer, Siemens, Microsoft, HARIBO Germany, Allianz, Bank of America, BASF, Infineon Technologies, BMW Group, Covestro, T-Mobile, DHL, SAP, Evonik, Bosch and Schaeffler. Take time today in the beautiful weather to pay a visit! The German-American Friendship Garden remains open to the public during the federal government shutdown. Plan your visit at https://lnkd.in/d2bjvinN. Image 3 by German Federal Government / Bergmann Images 2, 4, 5 by Stephen Bobb

Planning a visit to the National Mall this weekend? We’ve got a smart new way to navigate the government shutdown. While the National Mall’s iconic open-air sites remain open to visitors, indoor sites, including the Lockkeeper’s House and the Wells Fargo Horse Stables Education Center, are currently closed. National Park Service rangers and our Volunteers-in-Parks will not be onsite to welcome and educate visitors. If you still have a visit in the works, we’ve got the news you need. The Trust for the National Mall just launched the National Mall Gateway, a new digital platform that has all the facts, figures and history behind all the monuments and memorials. Plus, check out 360-degree virtual tours to see inside sites that are currently closed. Until they’re back on the National Mall, it’s almost like having a National Park Service ranger in your back pocket to show you around…minus the hat and the awesome personality, of course! Visit gateway.nationalmall.org to explore the National Mall – from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, or from your kitchen table or classroom anywhere in the world!  

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The federal government shutdown is affecting the National Park Service’s ability to welcome visitors and maintain select facilities on the National Mall. As the nonprofit, nonpartisan partner of the National Park Service, the Trust for the National Mall will continue raising private funds to restore, preserve, and enrich the visitor experience—and to help ensure continuity for the National Mall as needed. Iconic sites such as the Lincoln Memorial are fully accessible, though indoor sites including the Lockkeeper’s House and the U.S. Park Police Horse Stables Education Center will be closed. The National Mall Gateway, the Trust's NEW digital learning platform remains open -- featuring historical facts, stories, and exclusive 360-degree video tours of sites across the National Mall—including access to sites that are currently closed. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/eKn-FfM7 Please visit https://lnkd.in/ecX-2Xjj to read the full statement from Trust President & CEO Catherine Townsend.

As Gov. Wes Moore (MD), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA) and first ladies Dawn Moore and Suzanne S. Youngkin so eloquently shared at last week's Monumental Conversation: On the Road to 250, the National Mall takes on greater significance as a unifying symbol in our nation as we approach America’s 250th in 2026. Our work to restore this iconic space with the National Park Service has never been more critical than right now. We are so grateful to the governors and first ladies for joining us for this important bipartisan dialogue about America’s 250th, a historic moment for our nation. Thank you to David M. Rubenstein, longtime champion for the National Mall, and sponsors Wells Fargo, Meridiam, With Honor, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Federal Employee Program and Marlene Malek. Watch highlights and a replay of the program at https://lnkd.in/eTiVzPb3. Stay tuned for announcements about the next in our series of Monumental Conversations: On the Road to 250! 

Tom Haser has been a member of our Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) program serving at the Eisenhower Memorial since 2019. He’s also a volunteer at the Lockkeeper’s House on the National Mall, and, inspired by festivals in other U.S. cities, developed a LocktoberfestDC tradition.  “What surprises visitors most is the Lockkeeper’s House was once completely surrounded by water—the Washington City Canal on the north side, today’s Constitution Ave NW, and the Potomac River surrounding the rest of the house.” JOIN US for a special event, this Saturday: LocktoberfestDC is a free annual guided biking and walking tour that takes place to celebrate and highlight the major canals that served 19th-century Washington, D.C., featuring the Lockkeeper’s House on the National Mall. Join Tom and the Trust for the National Mall for this special tour beginning Saturday, September 27. Learn more at locktoberfestdc.org. 

The Trust for the National Mall was honored to join its partners at the National Park Service to host GE Aerospace and CEO Larry Culp for this "Mall Hands on Deck" corporate day of service on America's Front Yard. Thank you GE Aerospace not only for supporting our new National Mall Gateway digital learning platform inspired by America's 250th, but for coming out and getting your hands dirty to restore and preserve the National Mall. Contact us to learn about Mall Hands on Deck days of service at philanthropy@nationalmall.org https://lnkd.in/eHJdhjwD