Lincoln Memorial: Temporary Ramp replaces Elevator

Date of Visit: October 6, 2024

I would not normally make a post when we visited without Mik, but one of the reasons he did not visit the Lincoln Memorial with us this day was that we saw the alert on the website saying elevator was out and it did not mention there was still a way to go up to the top. We were not surprised that the elevator was not operating as Dad had mentioned there was renovations going on, but it was odd that the website says nothing about the renovations and instead says the elevator is out since December due to an electrical issue.

When we got to the Lincoln Memorial, we discovered that they had a temporary on the south side that takes you up to the top.

It certainly is not ideal for those with some mobility issues as it is a lot of back and forth, but for us it was helpful as even though we did not have Mik, we did have a stroller this visit. The ramp is also well done with it being ADA slope with resting spots and even benches at each turn. It is kind of an eyesore, but personally I would be all for it becoming permanent so you can have the choice of avoiding the wait for the elevator.

Previous Visit Posts

• 2011
• 2015

Destination Info:
Lincoln Memorial National Memorial
Lincoln Memorial Circle
Washington, DC 20037

Washington Monument: Improved Experience w/ Periscope

Date of Visit: October 5, 2024

This particular trip to D.C. is partially focused on doing D.C. things with family that this is their first D.C. trip. Going to the top of Washington Monument was what I choose as our first thing to do. Mik remembered our visit in 2014 and not being able to see anything, so he originally was not going to go with.

Rereading about the process back in 2014 versus today's experience, we discovered that it has not changed much overall, but it has changed in a few key ways that really makes it much better experience. First off, you go through the security building the same as everyone else instead of the exit, which was how it worked previously. More importantly at the end you just go out the exit same as everyone else and not the odd locked gate experience we had on our 2014 visit.

Most important discovery was that they do in fact still have the periscope (or assistive device as Dad insists on calling it and it is probably officially called). Not sure if they would have offered it to us if we had not asked as in 2014 it wasn't and we thought they stopped offering it, but the first time we visited in 2006, they did offer it to Mik without us knowing about it. I feel like they would not have offered it, though, as it was after we were all looking out the window that I reminded Dad to see if they had one. As soon as Dad asked the ranger if they had an assistive device for someone in a wheelchair to use, the ranger knew exactly what we wanted, though, so they are at least trained to provide when asked.

Overall Mik still felt it was not worth going to the top of the Washington Monument again as even with the periscope he might as well have just seen pictures of the view. However, he does think the museum level and seeing the special stones as you go down are still a worthwhile experience at least once, especially now that the entrance and exit is same for everyone.

Destination Info:
Washington Monument
2 15th St. NW
Washington, DC