Rainbow Pool

Rainbow Pool was a water feature on the National Mall with fountain displays created by around 124 nozzles. It sat between the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and 17th Street NW, serving as a focal point of the landscape.

Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. designed this water feature, which received its name in 1924. The structure was integrated into the World War II Memorial design in 2001, marking a major transformation of the site.

The name came from the rainbow effects created by its fountains starting in 1924. Visitors walking through the area can still observe how the water displays shaped the character of this space on the National Mall.

The location sits within the World War II Memorial complex and can be accessed through the entrance at 17th Street SW. Visitors should note that the original pool is now integrated into the memorial grounds, and the layout has changed from its original form.

The transformation of the pool into part of the World War II Memorial required special congressional approval to modify the original structure. This legislative step reflected how the National Mall manages competing uses of historic sites and new memorials.

Location: Washington, D.C.

GPS coordinates: 38.88940,-77.04050

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:52