Lincoln Park (Washington, D.C.)

Lincoln Park is an urban public park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C., occupying roughly 7.6 acres. It is a longstanding municipal green space noted for its central monuments and tree-lined pathways.

The park contains formal lawns, paved paths, and mature trees framing views toward the U.S. Capitol and surrounding rowhouse streets. The most visited feature is the Emancipation Memorial, a large bronze monument at the park’s center dating to 1876. The park is used for casual recreation, walking, and as a pause point between the Capitol and nearby cultural sites.

The open space that became Lincoln Park was set aside in the city’s early planning and developed as a public park in the 19th century. Monuments were added over time, most notably the Emancipation Memorial by Thomas Ball, unveiled in 1876; the park has since been maintained as a municipal park for public use.

The park sits on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., immediately east of the U.S. Capitol and within walking distance of the National Mall and Union Station. It is bounded by the neighborhood’s residential streets and is accessible from multiple Metro stations.

• Size and location: Located on Capitol Hill about 0.8 km east of the U.S. Capitol, the park occupies roughly 7.6 acres and is a defined open green within the city grid.
• Principal monument: Contains the Emancipation Memorial, erected in 1876, which is the park's most prominent monument and focal point for many visitors.

What to See #

• Emancipation Memorial: A bronze monument by sculptor Thomas Ball, unveiled in 1876, located near the park's center and dedicated to the emancipation of enslaved people.