Constitution Gardens

The Constitution Gardens is a historical park located on the National Mall. At the center of Washington, D.C., it is one of the nation’s most symbolic public spaces, housing many of the country’s prominent monuments, memorials, and museums.

Developed in the early 1970s, it replaced temporary federal buildings that had occupied the area after World War I. The addition of the green space created a more tranquil environment, as opposed to other parts of the Mall that feature more monuments.

Where Is Constitution Gardens Park Located?

Constitution Gardens is located west of the National Mall. It runs directly along Constitution Avenue NW, and just north of the Reflecting Pool. It sits directly south of the Albert Einstein Memorial, making it a common pathway for visitors heading to and from that monument. It is also within easy walking distance of the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Washington Monument. Just south of Constitution Gardens, in West Potomac Park along the Tidal Basin, is the George Mason Memorial, located off the main stretch of the National Mall.

Why Was Constitution Gardens Created?

The Constitution Gardens Park is part of a broader effort to restore and reshape the National Mall. During and after World War I, the federal government constructed temporary office buildings across parts of the Mall, but by the late 1960s, there was a push to remove the buildings and create public land.

Today, it serves two purposes. First, it provides usable green space for recreation, walking, and reflection. Second, it acts as a connective landscape that links multiple memorials without feeling like a transit area. Visitors often pass through the gardens en route to nearby sites, even if they do not initially plan to visit them.

Constitution Gardens also features a man-made lake surrounded by walking paths and trees. The landscaped plantings, shaded areas, and trails are designed to encourage slower movement, in contrast to the high traffic the landmarks surrounding it attract.

Recent Design Developments

The Constitution Garden Park is now the focus of a major ecological restoration effort led by PWP Landscape Architecture and Rogers Partners Architects. The goal is to make the site more biodiverse, resilient, and environmentally functional. The ecological redesign includes restoring the lake by adding a clay bottom and increasing depth and width. An addition of 2.5 acres of native meadows and woodlands is also being introduced. The plan is to include 124 plant species and 478 new trees.

Much of the land's soil is being replaced with healthier soil to support deeper root systems and more diverse vegetation. A bioinfiltration system is being installed to capture and filter stormwater before it reaches the lake. These changes will help turn the Constitution Gardens into an urban ecological system that supports the local environment.

Popular Monuments In and Near Constitution Gardens

Several major memorials sit in and around Constitution Gardens Park, which spans American history and includes prominent figures in science and politics, as well as a memorial dedicated to the founding of the United States.

Albert Einstein Memorial

The Albert Einstein Memorial is located along Constitution Avenue, north of Constitution Gardens. It became a historic addition to the National Mall because it’s the first and only memorial dedicated to a scientist. The monument features a 12-foot bronze statue of Einstein seated with his scientific papers, created by sculptor Robert Berks. The memorial also features a circular stone dais embedded with metal studs that map the positions of the celestial bodies as they appeared on April 22, 1979, an homage to Einstein's 100th birthday (Learn more about the Einstein Memorial here)

George Mason Memorial

George Mason is recognized for writing the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which influenced the U.S. Bill of Rights and human rights initiatives. The memorial, located just south of Constitution Gardens in West Potomac Park, features a seated statue of Mason surrounded by engraved excerpts of his writings. These inscriptions highlight his arguments for individual rights, religious freedom, and limits on government power (Get more George Mason Memorial facts).

Memorial For The 56 Signers Of The Declaration of Independence

Located along a small pond near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial, the memorial for the 56 Signers of The Declaration is understated compared to other local monuments. Rather than featuring statues or towering architecture, it exhibits a curved stone wall engraved with the names of all 56 men who signed the Declaration in 1776.

Visiting Constitution Gardens Park

The exact address of the Constitution Gardens is 1850 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. It is free and open to the public all year. There are no entrance gates or ticketing requirements. Visitors can easily access the park using the Foggy Bottom Metro Station.