• The Lincoln Memorial is just one of the many handicapped-accessible attractions in Washington, D.C.Lincoln Memorial - Washington DC image by Misha Tyukin from Fotolia.com
  
  The United States capital, Washington, D.C., offers an array of handicapped-accessible activities and attractions, including bus tours, museums and sightseeing excursions. All visitors are welcome to explore the city's iconic memorials and monuments such as The National Mall, the U.S. Capitol, and the Washington Monument; visitors to The Mall can find permit-only handicapped parking adjacent to the FDR Memorial. Common access features available in national parks and museums include ramps, sign language interpreted-tours, elevators, and complimentary wheelchair use.
  
  

Visit the Lincoln Memorial

• Visitors are welcome to view the memorial from ground level or from the top of the stairs. Elevators are located in the ground-level lobby areas for visitors who are unable to climb the steps. The seated marble statue of Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, overlooks the Reflecting Pool. Located on the west end of the National Mall, the memorial is in line with the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument. Admission is free and handicapped parking is available adjacent to the FDR Memorial.
  
  Lincoln Memorial
  The National Mall
  Lincoln Memorial Circle SW
  Washington, D.C. 20037
  202-426-6841
  http://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm
  
  

Explore the Smithsonian Institution

• Visit the largest museum complex and research organization in the world, comprised of 19 museums, nine research centers, and the National Zoo. The museums include the Natural History Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the National Portrait Gallery, the Air and Space Museum, and the African Art Museum. Other Smithsonian museums include the Udvar-Hazy Center---a companion to the Air and Space Museum---located in Chantilly, Virginia, and the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City. Each of the museums has at least one entrance that is accessible to visitors with limited mobility; detailed maps of handicapped accessible entrances are available on the official website. Wheelchairs are available to use free of charge at all of the Washington, D.C. museums and at the National Zoo on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free for all of the Washington, D.C. museums, the National Zoo, and the American Indian Museum's Heye Center in New York.
  
  Smithsonian Institution
  1000 Jefferson Dr., SW
  Washington, D.C.
  202-633-1000
  http://www.si.edu/visit/
  
  

Take a Double-Decker Bus Tour

• The open-top, handicapped-accessible bus tour stops at an array of Washington, D.C. attractions, including Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, the National Aquarium, the Washington, D.C. Visitor's Center, and The Mall. Daily tours depart from Union Station every half hour from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets are valid for two consecutive days of unlimited rides and hop-on-hop-off privileges. Discount prices are available for children between four and 15 years old; children under four ride free. The hop-on hop-off bus tour can accommodate handicapped passengers but requires at least 24 hours notice to ensure that proper equipment is available. Passengers must be able to get on and off the bus on their own and if using a wheelchair, it must be foldable. Handicapped passengers can indicate their status on an online order form or inform the ticket agent when making a reservation.
  
  DC Tours
  888-878-9870
  http://www.dctours.us/