Watergate Steps

Across the Potomac River, you can catch a glimpse of Virginia state's skyline. 🌆 I absolutely adore the transition from sunset to dusk; it's when the river's reflection mirrors the sky like a perfect canvas. 🌅 The beauty of this moment is truly captivating. 😍

Not much to see but steps. The history behind it is interesting… built back in the day when they thought people would arrive by boat and land by the steps and climb up to the Lincoln Memorial and the Mall. Now they’re good for runners for exercise, to sit with your lunch and reflect on one’s life or simply rest as you track around DC.

Secreted away behind the Lincoln Memorial are these steps that seem to go nowhere. Historically, these steps were part of the Lincoln Memorial and designed to be the entrance for folks entering the Capitol by boat. This never really panned out, but steps were the site of the “Sunset Symphonies”, which ran from 1935 to 1965, when they were finally canceled due to the jet noise drowning out the music. Now it’s a haven for joggers doing their stairs in the morning and is a nice place of an evening to take in river views and the lights of the bridge.

Depsite the name, this is not where Nixon fell down the steps. Having happened upon this beautiful site before the sun set over the water, my girlfriend and I had a relaxing time enjoying the sit after walking many miles that day. The kids around us using the sides of the steps as a slide, be warned however, as the steps are steep and lead directly into heavy traffic.

Kinda hard, but they do allow you to change your elevation somewhat. If you plan to meet someone here, must let them know ahead of time.

Not much to see. Just people running up and down them and the sidewalk at the bottom to the left just ends which sucks

Of all the forgotten memorials, monuments, and cultural landmarks in Washington D.C, the Watergate Steps sit among those seldom few that perfectly balance architectural beauty and intriguing history. Connected to the Arlington Memorial Bridge area, sitting between the Arts of War and the Arts of Peace Sculptures, the steps were originally designed to serve as part of a dock, allowing dignitaries arriving via the Potomac River to ascend into the capital in sight of the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. However, the intended use of the steps was never realized and the National Symphony Orchestra utilized the space from July 14th 1935 to host as many as 12,000 audience members for their barge-based performances. Unfortunately, increased air traffic drew an end to the performing arts space in 1965, where it has since been an impressive, but defunct, staircase used primarily by runners and tourists keen to capture an awe-inspiring view of the river along the steps. Tourists to the area will find that the forty steps that make up the Watergate Steps may quickly become congested, despite being 230ft wide at the top and 206ft wide at the base. Considering the appeal of the area, serving as a starting (or ending) point for those walking the National Mall, I would recommend visiting the steps during the early part of the day to ensure that the full-experience of the granite steps can be savored with as few other visitors as possible. One of the only downsides to the Watergate Steps is that the history of the location far exceeds the excitement felt in viewing them. For those uninformed or uninterested in the specific history of the site, the impressive landmarks along the National Mall will outshine the steps and may cause tourists to de-prioritize them, misunderstand their importance, or miss them altogether.

The Watergate Steps are 40 steps directly behind the Lincoln Memorial along the Potomac River. They were originally made for VIPs visiting the National Mall who docked along the Potomac River. However, the steps were never used for that. Instead, they were used for sunset orchestra concerts. The orchestra would play from a barge on the river and the audience would sit on the steps. Today, the steps are used by mostly locals for one of two reasons- 1) To watch the sunset over the Rosslyn skyline across the river and 2) For workouts.