This program will be available for sale to the general public starting on March 7, 2026.Want to register before then? Become a donor today, or if you are already a donor, log in to register for this program. Washington’s Monumental Core: The Evolution of the National Mall Afternoon Lecture/Seminar Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET Code: 1NV188 Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Earn ½ elective credit toward your World Art History certificate Select your Registration $25 Member $35 Gen. Admission Resize text The National Mall in Washington, D.C. Over nearly 250 years, the National Mall has evolved as the center stage of the nation’s capital. The Founding Fathers saw the District of Columbia as a shining beacon of democracy for a newly independent nation, reflected in the L’Enfant Plan’s vision of the National Mall as its ceremonial core. Progress, however, was slow and laborious. Less than 40 years after the establishment of Washington, Charles Dickens described the underwhelming capital as a “city of magnificent intentions.” Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, traces the Mall’s transition from pasture lands to military training grounds and from mud flats to grand monuments, sharing the complex and lesser-known history of some of the most enduring national landmarks including the Capitol, Washington Monument, White House, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. General Information View Common FAQs and Policies about our Online Programs on Zoom.