Thousands of visitors gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., this Presidents Day weekend to honor George Washington’s Birthday with expanded public programs amid the wider Semiquincentennial year of American independence.

The third Monday in February, officially designated as Washington’s Birthday but more commonly known as Presidents Day, provided an occasion for the National Park Service and cultural partners to stage educational activities and historical engagement at iconic memorials and monuments along the Mall’s historic stretch of greenspace.

In recognition of the nation’s founding and Washington’s role as the first President of the United States, special programming included ranger-led talks and interpretive events linking the life and legacy of America’s foremost Founding Father to the commemorative landscape that stretches from the United States Capitol to the Washington Monument.

The holiday, observed as a federal public holiday with closures of government offices, courts and financial markets, also drew out families, school groups and history enthusiasts eager to explore the Mall’s museums, memorials and open-air civic space free of charge as part of the Presidents Day tradition.

Alongside these Mall activities, celebrations across the capital — from Lincoln-themed observances at the Lincoln Memorial to community parades in nearby historic Alexandria — underscored a broader tapestry of national remembrance and civic pride.

These gatherings come amid a year of heightened focus on the nation’s heritage as Washington, D.C., continues to host a wide array of Semiquincentennial events and cultural exhibitions marking two hundred and fifty years since independence.

The National Mall remains central to those observances, symbolizing both American history and public memory as visitors walk its lawns, view its memorials and participate in ceremonies that pay tribute to the enduring contributions of the nation’s earliest leaders.