West Potomac Park

West Potomac Park is an urban park in Southwest Washington that stretches from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument. The grounds cover roughly 394 acres with open lawns, paved pathways, and the Tidal Basin, an artificial body of water lined with memorials and trees along its shores.

The area came into being after 1881 when the Army Corps of Engineers dredged the Potomac River and piled the material to form new ground. This project aimed to stop flooding downtown and created new land for public use at the same time.

During spring the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin draw walkers and families who come to see the blossoms. These trees recall the long connection between the United States and Japan and shape how the capital looks during this season.

The park opens every day from early morning until midnight and is reachable through several Metro stations nearby. Wide pathways make it easy to walk or cycle between the different memorials and connect the monuments to each other.

The entire park sits on material dredged from the river and rests only a few meters above sea level. This reclaimed land made it possible to create a continuous green belt between the city's main memorials.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1834

Elevation above the sea: 4 m

Operator: National Park Service

Part of: East and West Potomac Parks Historic District

GPS coordinates: 38.88528,-77.04694

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30