Navy and Marine Memorial — Attraction in Washington

The Navy Merchant Marine Memorial is a memorial on Columbia Island that many recognize by driving along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, but few have stopped to visit it. Here's why it's worth your time:

1. Story: It's the first memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Navy and Merchant Marines. It took almost twenty years to go from ideation to opening due to lack of funds. Given the amount of trash nearby and the decay on the memorial, it's still neglected.

2. Memorial: It's one of the most unique memorials in the city and weirdly beautiful. You can also climb into the wave or use it as a place to read a good book.

3. Views: It's on an island in the Potomac River with stunning views of the National Mall.

If you want to visit, you can access it via foot or bike along the Mt. Vernon Trail or you can drive. The parking lot near the marina gives you three hours of free parking. It's a short walk from the...

I’ve driven past this for years and always wondered what it was, but until today I never really got around to looking at it up close because of perceived parking issues. I finally got around to it and honestly it’s even cooler up close. As if the waves and seagulls weren’t cool enough, there’s so many intricate details and embellishments you can’t see from the road and upon learning what it represents it makes it feel all the more powerful. Also the flowers surrounding it are gorgeous so I definitely recommend checking it out while they’re still in bloom. But regardless of when you see it, it’s still worth seeing up close. If you’re looking for parking, try the marina on the other side of the parkway and take the path that goes...

On the GW Parkway, the Navy Merchant Marine Memorial is located on Lady Bird Johnson Park. It's a memorial commemorating the sailors of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Merchant Marine who served during WWI. Nicknamed Waves and Gulls, the statue depicts 7 seagulls on top of a wave. There's a concrete plaza around the memorial and two flagstone walks that lead up to it. In my opinion, it's a very intricate and well-designed memorial.

During the spring, gorgeous tulips blossom around the memorial. Coupled with views of the Potomac River and the Washington Monument across the river, this is an idyllic and very photogenic spot. I usually stop by on my runs along the Mount Vernon trail. It's a beautiful but overlooked...