Tidal Basin Ideas Lab

A partnership between the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Trust for the National Mall, and the National Park Service, alongside civic partner Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), The Tidal Basin Ideas Lab is an urgent call to action to address the pressing need for critical repairs and improvements, including a crumbling sea wall and daily flooding, taking into consideration environment, culture and visitor experience. The project marks a critical juncture for the landscape of the nation’s capital, envisioning and reshaping a deeply symbolic and beloved public space that communicates the history, values, and aspirations of the country.

The Tidal Basin: An Endangered National Treasure

This cherished and deeply symbolic place is at a pivotal moment, as subsidence, daily flooding, increasing visitation, and crumbling infrastructure threaten its long-term sustainability.

Under Water: The National Mall's Tidal Basin Faces A Rising Threat

Preservation Magazine - Spring 2020

Under Water: The National Mall's Tidal Basin Faces A Rising Threat

Preservation Magazine - Spring 2020

BloomCam

The Trust for the National Mall, The National Cherry Blossom Festival and the National Park Service are thrilled to announce the introduction of the #BloomCam, to allow people to virtually monitor DC’s famous budding cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin in real time as they bloom.

U.S. Park Police Horse Stables and Education Center

The U.S. Park Police Horse Mounted Unit is one of the oldest police equestrian units in the United States. The Trust for the National Mall led this milestone project to create a new Education Center to welcome the public and a state-of-the-art sustainable home for the horses and officers of the Mounted Unit on the National Mall.

German-American Friendship Garden

Designed pro bono by Wolfgang Oehme in 1983, this small garden (350 x 60 feet) occupies a prominent place on the National Mall.

Projects, Capital ProjectsGuest UserSeptember 1, 2019Restoration, Active, Private Donations, Garden

Save the Tidal Basin

The first phase of our three-year National Treasure initiative with the National Trust for Historic Preservation will be to design, host, and share results from an Ideas Lab presented by American Express—a forum for generating a bold, ambitious, and integrated vision for the Tidal Basin.

ProjectsGuest UserAugust 30, 2019Education, Restoration, Tidal Basin, Active, Private Donations, Ideas Lab

Washington Monument Grounds at Sylvan Theater

The Washington Monument Grounds at Sylvan Theater have been re-imagined as part of the Trust’s national juried competition to create an elegant gateway to the Monument and creates a transformed setting for our nation's most visible center stage.

Lockkeeper's House

The oldest structure on the National Mall and untouched for more than 40 years, the Lockkeeper’s House was moved away from the busy corner at 17th and Constitution and fully restored. Completed in 2018 the house is now open to the public and is the gatekeeper to the National Mall, providing educational content to visitors for the first time about the history of the National Mall, the history purpose of the house and the surrounding landscapes.

Constitution Gardens, Phase 2

Following the grand reopening of the restored and relocated Lockkeeper’s House in fall of 2018, Phase 2 will address the rehabilitation of the lake and Signers Island at Constitution Gardens and the interior exhibits at the Lockkeeper’s House. Once fully restored, this under-utilized 36 acres of space will become a vibrant urban park with concessions and visitor amenities and will be a showcase for environmental sustainability.

Projects, Capital ProjectsGuest UserAugust 28, 2019Education, Restoration, Future, Private Donations, Con. Gardens

George Mason Memorial

The rehabilitation of the George Mason Memorial is complete and provides an urban oasis that more accurately reflects the historical period in which Mason lived as well as the memorial’s original design. The memorial includes a new central fountain, perennial plantings throughout the site and a refurbished George Mason statue, trellis and inscription.

Universal Accessibility at the Jefferson Memorial

As the broader repairs to the roof structure and cleaning continue, the Trust will be an advisor to the redesign of the undercroft exhibit space, bringing experts and historians together to support the National Park Service in the development of the interpretive content for the exhibits.

Turf Restoration

The revitalization of the turf provides a green, beautiful expanse of land for the thousand plus events that occur there.

Projects, Capital ProjectsGuest UserAugust 19, 2019Turf Restoration, Restoration, Completed, Federal Funds

Washington Monument Restoration

32-months of repairs were conducted and the monument was officially reopened on May 12, 2014 after its complete restoration.

Japanese Lantern on the Tidal Basin

As the oldest free-standing, man-made stone structure standing outdoors in D.C., the lantern takes its place among the many natural and cultural treasures on the National Mall.

Olmstead Light Restoration

In partnership with the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service, and the generous support of Osram Sylvania and Pepco, the Trust for the National Mall has restore and upgraded the 174 historic bronze street lamps designed by Frederick Law Olmsted that line the Mall.

Projects, Capital ProjectsGuest UserAugust 6, 2019Restoration, Completed, Private Donations

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Restoration

In 2012, the Reflecting Pool was completely rebuilt with sustainable water conservation features.

Projects, Capital ProjectsGuest UserAugust 6, 2019Restoration, Completed, Federal Funds, Lincoln Memorial

Restoration of the D.C. War Memorial

The District of Columbia War Memorial, which was constructed in 1931 to honor those District residents who served and died in World War I, was restored to its place of importance on the National Mall while continuing its historic use as a venue for concerts and other special events.

Projects, Capital ProjectsGuest UserAugust 5, 2019DC War Memorial, Restoration, Completed, Federal Funds

Jefferson Memorial Seawall

The Trust helped leverage more than $150 million in federal dollars for restoration projects on the National Mall, including repairing the sinking plaza in front of the Jefferson Memorial.

TRUST FOR THE NATIONAL MALL