Freedom Plaza
Freedom Plaza
3.5
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How to get there
- Metro Center • 6 min walk
- Federal Triangle • 6 min walk
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3.5
37 reviews
Excellent
3
Very good
13
Average
19
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Maurene_K
Dover, NH12,594 contributions
Sept 2014 • Friends
Located at 14th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Freedom Plaza is a historic landmark because many demonstrations and political protests have been held here. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. honed his "I Have a Dream Speech” at the Willard Hotel. The west end of Freedom Plaza is directly across the street from the hotel.
There is a fountain in this end of the plaza. At the east end of the plaza, there is a statue of Kazimierz Pułaski, a Polish nobleman who fought in the American Revolution and is known as the Father of the American Cavalry. This plaza is adjacent to Pershing Park.
Formerly named Western Plaza, Freedom Plaza was built in 1980 and renamed to honor Dr. King. The plaza's inlaid stone is in the form of parts of Pierre L'Enfant's plan for the City of Washington, showing the Federal Triangle, the U.S. Capitol, the White House 1½ blocks west, and part of the National Mall which is a long block south.
We visited Freedom Plaza en route to and returning from the White House Visitor Center. The Old Town Trolley hop-off, hop-on spot is right in front of the Willard Hotel.
We enjoyed the park benches in the plaza while waiting for the next trolley to pick us up.
Freedom Plaza is also one of the settings in the Dan Brown 2009 novel “The Lost Symbol.” Mr. Brown lives in a town near me, so I read his books. He chose this plaza because of its location at the interchanges of Metro lines. The Federal Triangle Metro Station, which sits on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines is across Pennsylvania Avenue from the plaza. The Metro Center Station on the Red, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines is two blocks north on 13th Street.
So, from that bit of trivia, it is evident that this attraction is easy to get to.
One can a nice view of the Washington Monument up at the corner from the Willard Hotel. It appears so close, but it’s about two long blocks away.
And, the Willard Hotel has a sidewalk café for lunch or late-afternoon refreshment.
If you found this review helpful, kindly click YES below.
There is a fountain in this end of the plaza. At the east end of the plaza, there is a statue of Kazimierz Pułaski, a Polish nobleman who fought in the American Revolution and is known as the Father of the American Cavalry. This plaza is adjacent to Pershing Park.
Formerly named Western Plaza, Freedom Plaza was built in 1980 and renamed to honor Dr. King. The plaza's inlaid stone is in the form of parts of Pierre L'Enfant's plan for the City of Washington, showing the Federal Triangle, the U.S. Capitol, the White House 1½ blocks west, and part of the National Mall which is a long block south.
We visited Freedom Plaza en route to and returning from the White House Visitor Center. The Old Town Trolley hop-off, hop-on spot is right in front of the Willard Hotel.
We enjoyed the park benches in the plaza while waiting for the next trolley to pick us up.
Freedom Plaza is also one of the settings in the Dan Brown 2009 novel “The Lost Symbol.” Mr. Brown lives in a town near me, so I read his books. He chose this plaza because of its location at the interchanges of Metro lines. The Federal Triangle Metro Station, which sits on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines is across Pennsylvania Avenue from the plaza. The Metro Center Station on the Red, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines is two blocks north on 13th Street.
So, from that bit of trivia, it is evident that this attraction is easy to get to.
One can a nice view of the Washington Monument up at the corner from the Willard Hotel. It appears so close, but it’s about two long blocks away.
And, the Willard Hotel has a sidewalk café for lunch or late-afternoon refreshment.
If you found this review helpful, kindly click YES below.
Written 29 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I visited this place🇬🇧🇳🇱🇺🇸🇫🇷🇨🇭
Israel36,101 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
PROS
* Memorial to freedom
* Reference to MLK
* Dedicated to national values
* Spacious
* Contains the original design for this Federal city
* Location of commemorative events
* Next to (close to) White House Visitor Center
CONS
* Not well known
* Often crowded with those events
“I VISITED THIS PLACE”…
… in order to participate and be present at an event.
ADVICES
This is certainly not a major tourist place, but maybe to sit there and eat a packaged lunch.
* Memorial to freedom
* Reference to MLK
* Dedicated to national values
* Spacious
* Contains the original design for this Federal city
* Location of commemorative events
* Next to (close to) White House Visitor Center
CONS
* Not well known
* Often crowded with those events
“I VISITED THIS PLACE”…
… in order to participate and be present at an event.
ADVICES
This is certainly not a major tourist place, but maybe to sit there and eat a packaged lunch.
Written 22 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MominOC
Orange County, CA5,054 contributions
Aug 2021
wasn't fond of all the skateboarders and many were staring making us uncomfortable. Quick walk through was sufficient.
Written 21 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BonnieNimmo
Marble Falls, TX1,168 contributions
Sept 2020 • Solo
I walked by passing the time on a lovely Sunday late afternoon and watched a bunch of guys skateboarding and enjoying the park. I don’t know if it’s like this on weekdays but it seemed like a very pretty and pleasant place for locals to spend time on lively days!
Written 27 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pawlover
North Carolina1,546 contributions
Dec 2019
We walked here during our trip to DC in December. It is not as pretty and vibrant in December but this is a popular place for protests, skateboarders, etc.
Written 21 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jaskel08
California357 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
We passed by, walking, the plaza multiple times. There's not much to it. Spent no more than 10 minutes. I believe there is some history involved with MLK Jr. I believe he worked on his "I Have A Dream" speech there.
Written 29 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack
Old Bethpage, NY3,384 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Freedom Plaza is a great plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue. From Freedom Plaza, you have a great view of the Capitol Building on one side and the WWII memorial on the other side.
Written 10 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LolaGo1
Washington DC, DC6,624 contributions
Sept 2019
I briefly stopped here when I noticed a stage being set-up and several tents with people organizing some handouts. Learned that the Special Event was for the Cure of Children Cancer that starts at 6:45 p.m. during my visit.
I looked around and read some of the quotes inscribed at the floor of this Plaza. Took several pictures of the Capitol Building that I could see from the distance.
I looked around and read some of the quotes inscribed at the floor of this Plaza. Took several pictures of the Capitol Building that I could see from the distance.
Written 21 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lavarcham
Poulton Le Fylde, UK3,340 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
This place is named in honour of Martin Luther King, Jr., and was opened in 1980. It is a Modernist plaza set on a raised terrace platform and separated from the surrounding streets by a series of steps, Freedom is so significant to the original ideas of America.
Written 13 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prawet J
Washington DC, DC12,762 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
Freedom Plaza is a nice concrete space in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the Capitol. In a day to day basis, it is just a space to sit under some trees nothing special and has nothing to write home about. However, the Plaza often has specific activities or organized events which are worth attending.
Written 29 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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