National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
George Washington Memorial ParkwayView of the falls on a stormy day at Great Falls Park
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
George Washington Memorial Parkway
History & Culture
 

 

The George Washington Memorial Parkway stands as a memorial to George Washington. It connects historic sites from Washington's home at Mt. Vernon, past the nation's capital, to the Great Falls of the Potomac, where Washington demonstrated his skill as an engineer.

Along the way, visitors to this historic roadway can explore our Nation's history, from George Washington to World War II and beyond. These places are all linked by this planned and landscaped road, the first section of which was completed in 1932 to commemorate the bicentennial of George Washington's birth.

Considered a commuter route by many local residents, the Parkway offers the traveler much more than convenience. It is a route to scenic, historic and recreational settings offering respite from the urban pressures of metropolitan Washington. 

The parkway provides a pleasant day from Mount Vernon to Great Falls, passing through the same lands George Washington frequently traveled by horse. The Parkway links a group of parks that provide a variety of experiences to more than 9 million people each year.

There are many ways to explore the Parkway. Ranger led programs are available year round daily at Great Falls Park, Clara Barton National Historic Site, Glen Echo Park, and Arlington House. Programs are available by reservation at many other locations including Turkey Run Park, Fort Marcy, Claude Moore Farm, Theodore Roosevelt Island, Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove, Dyke Marsh, and Fort Hunt Park.

In addition to the links on the right, these websites offer more information for those wanting to learn more.

Mount Vernon

Claude Moore Farm

Glen Echo

Theodore Roosevelt Island

Civilian Conservation Corps worker at Fort Hunt
Fort Hunt
World War II oral history program at Fort Hunt
more...
Arlington House
Arlington House
Discover more about the Lee family home
more...
Clara Barton
Clara Barton Historic Site
Visit her home and the headquarters of the American Red Cross
more...
Great Falls of the Potomac
Great Falls Park
The site of George Washington's Patowmack Canal
more...
Henderson Castle  

Did You Know?
Meridian Hill Park once contained a mansion that John Quincy Adams moved to when he left the White House in 1829.

Last Updated: December 26, 2006 at 14:57 EST