General Info

Location

1850 West Basin Drive SW or 400 West Basin Drive SW, Washington, D.C.

Along the Tidal Basin, in between the Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jefferson Memorials. 

 

Hours & Admission

The Memorial is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Admission is free. No tickets are required.

Bookstore hours: 10am- 6pm

 

What to Expect

The Memorial unfolds chronologically across outdoor spaces, each representing one term of FDR’s presidency (1933–1945) as well as a Prologue Room. Through sculpture, carved quotations, waterfalls, and landscape design, visitors encounter the human realities of the Great Depression and World War II.

The Memorial is unlike many memorials with one iconic statue.The Memorial was designed for the visitor to experience art, sights, and sounds within a garden like environment.  (Learn about the designer and artists at https://fdrmemorial.org/meet-the-artists/). It has a large footprint at  seven and a half acres - more than five football fields (plus endzones!). 

This Memorial, while named for FDR, is also a Memorial to an era. Visitors experience artwork from some of the great American sculptors of the 20th century, as well as fountains symbolizing various aspects of FDR’s life and times, flora, stonework, and inspiring quotes in granite.  

In addition to its unique landscape design, the Memorial is also notable as it is the only presidential memorial to include a statue of a First Lady - Eleanor Roosevelt.  It also features a presidential pet - Fala.  It also includes the famed statue of FDR in a wheelchair in the Prologue Room.  

We encourage people to give themselves 45-60 minutes to explore the Memorial. Stop by the  FDR Memorial Bookstore to grab a brochure. You can also use this informational guide as you walk through the memorial: FDR Memorial Tour Guide.pdf

 There are many benches and lots of shade to take refuge on a warm day.  There are restrooms at the front and at the end of the Memorial.

Enjoy the walk – it’s one of the the loveliest strolls in D.C.

 

Accessibility

The Memorial was designed to be accessible.

Paved pathways and integrated ramps connect all rooms. Wheelchairs and mobility devices are easily accommodated, and accessible parking spaces are at the front of the Memorial on West Basin Drive. Service animals are permitted. Restrooms are located at the front and end of the Memorial and have outlets that can be used to charge mobility devices.  

The Memorial also includes interpretation tables throughout the Memorial which offer audio, Braille, and small scale models. Inside the Bookstore (located at the front of the Memorial), you can find large print visitor brochures.    

 

Getting Here

Public transportation is strongly recommended, especially during peak seasons such as cherry blossom season.

Nearest Metro stations:

• Smithsonian via the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines
• Federal Triangle via the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines

Both require a 15–20 minute walk.

There is metered street parking. 

 

Weather & Seasonal Considerations

The Memorial is entirely outdoors. Summer afternoons can be hot and humid. Winter conditions may create icy surfaces. Early mornings and evenings often provide the most comfortable and reflective experience.

During cherry blossom season, expect heavy crowds.