---
source: strava
date: 2026-10-21 16:31:04
title: "The Lincoln Memorial and National Mall"
activity_type: Walk
strava_id: 20680615176
tags:
  - strava
gpx: "/strava/2026/10/21/the-lincoln-memorial-and-national-mall-20680615176.gpx"
elapsed_time: 5235
location: "Washington, District of Columbia"
photo_captions: {"the-lincoln-memorial-and-national-mall-082AD142-DA5B-4DDD-AE02-2CAA3004B906.jpg": "The famous statue of Abraham Lincoln seated and looking out onto the National Mall in the Lincoln Memorial temple. Above and behind Lincoln are carved into the marble the words: \n\nIN THIS TEMPLE\nAS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE \nFOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION \nTHE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN\nIS ENSHRINED FOREVER", "the-lincoln-memorial-and-national-mall-80C14ED1-05EE-4FBB-A076-03683FB6B5B9.jpg": "A tunnel effect with blue sky and horizon in the distance created by the outer set of Doric columns and the inner marble rear wall of the Lincoln Memorial temple facing the Potomac River.", "the-lincoln-memorial-and-national-mall-D9748D5D-8AE8-48DC-93BD-26D5ACC5F57E.jpg": "Another tunnel effect with the Washington Monument and dome of the Capitol Building in the distance framed by the right marble wall and Doric columns of the Lincoln Memorial temple.", "the-lincoln-memorial-and-national-mall-C8DA6072-DB08-4667-995F-6943061F779F.jpg": "Fall foliage is just starting to turn on the trees on the National Mall near the Coy Pond. At the center of the picture, a trees leaves have started to turn orange and red, while the surrounding trees are still green and yellow."}
---

Walk · 6.11 km · 1h 16m · 44m elevation

I was in Arlington, VA for work this week and had some time between meetings and dinner reservations near Du Pont Circle in Washington, DC. The weather this week was incredible, so I converted that free time into a stroll.

I visited the Lincoln Memorial, because I can't remember if I ever have before. Like, I think I had? Surely I would have when I lived here? But definitely? idk.

Then I went over and gawked at the ruined reflecting pool and walked across Foggy Bottom (lol), with a brief detour down K Street to walk past a building I worked in twenty years ago, and then north around the circle and off to dinner.

![The famous statue of Abraham Lincoln seated and looking out onto the National Mall in the Lincoln Memorial temple. Above and behind Lincoln are carved into the marble the words: IN THIS TEMPLE AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS ENSHRINED FOREVER](/strava/2026/10/21/the-lincoln-memorial-and-national-mall-082AD142-DA5B-4DDD-AE02-2CAA3004B906.jpg)

![A tunnel effect with blue sky and horizon in the distance created by the outer set of Doric columns and the inner marble rear wall of the Lincoln Memorial temple facing the Potomac River.](/strava/2026/10/21/the-lincoln-memorial-and-national-mall-80C14ED1-05EE-4FBB-A076-03683FB6B5B9.jpg)

![Another tunnel effect with the Washington Monument and dome of the Capitol Building in the distance framed by the right marble wall and Doric columns of the Lincoln Memorial temple.](/strava/2026/10/21/the-lincoln-memorial-and-national-mall-D9748D5D-8AE8-48DC-93BD-26D5ACC5F57E.jpg)

![Fall foliage is just starting to turn on the trees on the National Mall near the Coy Pond. At the center of the picture, a trees leaves have started to turn orange and red, while the surrounding trees are still green and yellow.](/strava/2026/10/21/the-lincoln-memorial-and-national-mall-C8DA6072-DB08-4667-995F-6943061F779F.jpg)