2023 STEWARDSHIP UPDATE
DELIVERING ON OUR PROMISE The Trust for the National Mall is delivering on its promise with the National Park Service to restore, preserve and elevate the National Mall. Thank you to all of our benefactors and supporters who make our important work possible.
RESTORATION & SUSTAINABILITY In partnership with the National Park Service, the Trust for the National Mall raises private funding and manages design and construction of capital improvement projects to restore and preserve the National Mall for future generations. Our Restoration and Sustainability work takes on new and pressing meaning as we work to prepare the National Mall for a milestone celebration in 2026, the 250th anniversary of American independence. The Trust works to manage and grow preservation and maintenance funds for select sites, including the cherry trees on the Tidal Basin and the Lockkeeper’s House. The following are key updates for 2023.
The New U.S. Park Police Horse Stables and Education Center Grand opening and ribbon cutting mark delivery of milestone project In June, the Trust for the National Mall held the much-anticipated Grand Opening for the NEW U.S. Park Police Horse Stables and Wells Fargo Education Center. This state-of-the-art, sustainable project was fully funded, designed and built by the Trust for the National Mall. This project was made possible through the generosity of our many supporters and benefactors, including Campaign Chair, Sheila Johnson, and Wells Fargo. This transformational project, built in partnership with the National Park Service and the U.S. Park Police, replaced the original, outdated horse stables built in the 1970s for the Bicentennial. The project also created a new, accessible pathway, a “path of hope,” to connect the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial. This is the first project in a series being planned by the Trust and the National Park Service to prepare the Mall for the grand celebration of America’s 250th anniversary coming in 2026.
BEFORE Original U.S. Park Police temporary stables
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AFTER New exterior of the U.S. Park Police Horse Stables and Education Center
The New Wells Fargo Education Center Education Center, exhibits, and barn provide new attraction on the Mall Since the U.S. Park Police Horse Stables and Education Center opened its doors, more than 30,000 people have visited, including scores of school children and families. Visitors learn about the history of the mounted patrol operations through self-guided tours, educational videos, and expert volunteers. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, the new, modern and sustainable quarters, including 14 stalls, exercise space, a wash and tack room, and additional office space, now provide a new home for the horses and a destination for visitors. To learn about ways to support the expansion of educational exhibits and the longterm care and preservation of the stables and its horses, please contact philanthropy@nationalmall.org. PLAN YOUR VISIT, THURSDAY - SUNDAY, 9:00am - 3:00pm!
Sheila Johnson Campaign Chair
Sachiko Kuno Foundation Dr. Scholl Foundation, Jeanne Scholl Phos Foundation,
the Suzanne & Glenn Youngkin Family Foundation
Students meet one of the Mounted Unit horses
Project funders tour the stables during construction
Jerry Taylor & Nancy Bryant Foundation Jean & Ric Edelman Jacqueline B. Mars & Mars Family
Christa and Calvin Schmidt Pamela Mars Wright Charlotte Rossetter Linda Mars Visitors enjoying the new exhibits at the Education Center
New, heated tack room at the Horse Stables
German-American Friendship Garden Refurbished fountains and restored plantings provided for the landscaped gardens Situated along the powerful axis between the White House Ellipse and the Washington Monument, the German-American Friendship Garden commemorates 300 years of immigration and friendship between the two nations. The Trust for the National Mall partnered with the German Embassy to the U.S., the National Park Service, and generous corporate supporters to restore and elevate the garden on the National Mall, including the iconic pair of fountains that flank and anchor this important space. Visit our website to learn more.
German President Steinmeier visiting the gardens in October 2023
The original restoration of the Gardens, generously supported by Volkswagen Group of America and 16 additional leading German and American corporations, is an example of the power of private philanthropy on the National Mall.
Volunteers plant 1,000 new perennials in the gardens
The German-American Friendship Garden also received an infusion of new perennials and plantings in 2023, thanks to the American Golf Industry and members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Volunteers also planted 1,000 perennials on the garden grounds. This fall, the Trust was honored to have President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, visit the historic German-American Friendship Garden on October 6, officially recognized as German-American Day, as part of his state visit to the United States.
Restoration & Sustainability
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TITLE: OF THEE WE SING
PUBLIC AWARENESS & EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT The Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service work to elevate the National Mall and promote greater awareness of its symbolic purpose as America’s Civic Stage, accessible to all. The Trust is creating new programming, events, and educational opportunities—including onsite and virtual experiences to help visitors connect to the National Mall and its history. The Beyond Granite art exhibition, led by the Trust, was widely acclaimed for bringing new stories to the National Mall. Beyond Granite is an important part of our work to ensure a more engaging Mall for all.
Beyond Granite The future of commemoration is not written in stone Reaching nearly two million visitors on the National Mall, the Beyond Granite exhibition, led by the Trust for the National Mall, featured a dynamic series of art installations designed to bring new stories and new voices to the National Mall in dialogue with the monuments and memorials. This inaugural exhibition of Beyond Granite was widely acclaimed for helping more people feel seen, heard and represented on the nation’ s most iconic, commemorative space.
TITLE: THE SOIL YOU SEE
Beyond Granite: Pulling Together exhibition The Trust was honored to lead the Beyond Granite initiative’s inaugural exhibition, entitled Pulling Together, from August 18 September 18 on the National Mall. The exhibition brought six artists and six extraordinary stories to the National Mall.
TITLE: HOMEGOING
The exhibitions were presented in partnership with the National Capital Planning Commission and the National Park Service, and supported by the Mellon Foundation. The exhibition enjoyed a warm reception across the National Mall—from visitors, students, art and history scholars, city planners, and public policy experts alike—and received international media attention. TITLE: AMERICA’S PLAYGROUND
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The exhibition tested the impact of temporary art exhibits on this extraordinary platform and helped elevate the National Mall and its historic purpose.
Restoration & Sustainability
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Meet the Visionary Artists of Beyond Granite:
Wendy Red Star
Paul Ramírez Jonas
vanessa german
Ashon T. Crawley
Tiffany Chung
Derrick Adams
The Trust is grateful to the co-curators of the exhibition, Paul Farber and Salamishah Tillet for Monument Lab, and the six artists who brought their stories to life on the National Mall. The exhibition was spotlighted in more than 400 stories in local, regional and national publications and broadcast outlets – including the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, CBS News Sunday, NPR Weekend Edition...and more.
TITLE: FOR THE LIVING
TITLE: LET FREEDOM RING
The Trust for the National Mall and its partners have already announced that we will collaborate to create a future iteration of Beyond Granite and explore future funding to make it an annual program. Sign up here for updates. “The National Mall provides space for expression of democracy, national mourning and celebration. With Beyond Granite, the Mall dazzled as a space for outdoor art. It’s a joy to see untold stories unfold on the Mall.” - Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Lonnie G. Bunch III
March On: RUSTIN | Audio Walking Tour Walk in the footsteps of the 1963 March on Washington on the National Mall The Trust’s March On: RUSTIN Audio Walking Tour premiered on the National Mall in fall of 2023. This educational programming lets visitors walk in the footsteps of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the National Mall. The audio tour, available on site and virtually, is a collaboration with our partner, Netflix, to coincide with the release of its biopic film, RUSTIN, chronicling Bayard Rustin, one of the principal architects of the March on Washington. This three-part audio walking tour and podcast episode provides visitors on the National Mall and anywhere in the world with an opportunity to hear the stories behind this watershed moment in the Civil Rights movement that established the National Mall as America’s Civic Stage. The educational audio walking tour includes three stops on the National Mall: The Lockkeeper’s House, one of the original starting points for the March in 1963; the Lincoln Memorial, and the approach to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The Trust is grateful to Netflix for its support and inkind collaboration on this project, and to Wells Fargo for its support of the initial research and development for the March On program that made it possible. Scan the QR code or click here to listen to the audio tour!
Public Awareness & Educational Enrichment
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The Adopt-a-Cherry-Tree Campaign Securing critical private funding to care for and ensure the future of Washington’s grandest springtime tradition A symbol of U.S.-Japanese friendship, the 3,700 cherry trees and their iconic, pink blossoms on the Tidal Basin were a gift from Japan in 1912. With a goal of raising $3.7 million to protect every tree, the Adopt-a-Cherry-Tree campaign helps the National Park Service care for the trees, plant approximately 100 new trees to replenish the forest each year, and create an endowment to ensure the trees will bloom for generations to come. A green and sustainable gift will help care for the treasured cherry trees on the Tidal Basin as they face advancing age, wear and tear from the millions who visit and the growing challenges of the changing climate. In 2023 the campaign raised $42,000 to help protect more than 40 trees over their lifetime. Our 2023 Adopt-A-Cherry-Tree supporters included Miah Malur, a local student and member of the D.C. Children of the American Revolution, who worked with her local community to raise $5,000 to help support and plant five new cherry trees on the National Mall.
Miah Malur’s campaign adopted five cherry trees
The Trust for the National Mall is grateful to all who support our work to care for cherry trees on the Tidal Basin. Learn more about how you can help ensure this iconic pink bloom for generations and watch the trees bloom on our LIVE #BloomCam on the Tidal Basin by visiting our website at bloomcam.org.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Stewarding and caring for the memorial—providing expert volunteers, engaging programming and special events to welcome and educate all who visit Since the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial opened to the public in 2020, more than 1.5 million visitors have toured the Memorial. The Trust partners with the National Park Service to provide tours and educational programs led by our award-winning Volunteers-In-Parks program. Programs offered vary from entertaining and educational events at the Memorial including a D-Day Commemorative concert each June, a wildly popular Astronomy Night—Eisenhower Under the Stars—every April to celebrate the creation of NASA, and a fun, lively military band concert honoring Eisenhower’s legacy and birthday every year on October 14. Importantly, thanks to its generous supporters, the Trust partners with the National Park Service to provide long term care and maintenance at the Eisenhower Memorial to ensure it will welcome visitors for generations to come. The Trust also manages the Friends of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Committee, chaired by Kansas State Representative Susan Estes, which supports fundraising activities to fund programming and preservation at the memorial. The Memorial and programming led by the Trust and the National Park Service help honor President Eisenhower and his legacy as a military leader, a global statesman, a Kansan, and the creator of NASA. Learn about upcoming programming and ways new benefactors can support the memorial at nationalmall.org.
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History, Heroes & Hope Awards
Honoring and celebrating extraordinary individuals and the history and ideals behind the National Mall Our History, Heroes & Hope Awards program, now in its tenth year, has a longstanding tradition of recognizing individuals whose significant work and achievements represent the ideals and spirit behind the National Mall—among them unity, equality, and democracy.
David M. Rubenstein presents 2023 award to Sheila Johnson Ambassador Emily Haber accepting 2023 award
Lonnie G. Bunch, III accepting 2021 award
Honoring Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad in 2022
The History, Heroes & Hope Awards are presented during the Trust’s marquee fundraising gala, BALL for THE MALL. In 2023, the History, Heroes & Hope Awards were presented to Her Excellency Emily Haber, Ambassador of Germany to the United States, and Sheila Johnson, Founder and CEO of The Salamander Collection. The History, Heroes & Hope Awards honorees embody the best ideals of our nation and honors those among us who live out those ideals through their work, charity, and passions.
Past honorees have included Secretary of the Smithsonian, Lonnie G. Bunch III, chef and humanitarian José Andrés, entertainers and activists Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and patriotic philanthropist, David M. Rubenstein. Stay tuned for announcements about our 2024 honorees!
BALL for THE MALL Celebrating and supporting our work and mission with the National Park Service BALL for THE MALL on May 10, 2023, was the event of the season, on the National Mall, under the stars, and beneath the monuments and memorials at Constitution Gardens. It was truly a monumental evening with more than 600 guests, including prominent business leaders, philanthropists, members of Congress, and public officials who joined the Trust to support and celebrate our mission with the National Park Service to preserve and elevate America’s Front Yard. The Trust for the National Mall’s marquee fundraising and awards gala, BALL for THE MALL is a grand celebration honoring our History, Heroes & Hope awardees, recognizing our generous benefactors and partners, and celebrating the Trust’s work and mission with the National Park Service. BALL for THE MALL will return on May 8, 2024 on the National Mall— against the backdrop of the Washington Monument and the US Capitol at 12th Street. Stay tuned for exciting announcements about our 2024 History, Heroes, & Hope Awardees, special guests and more. For sponsorship and ticket information contact us at ball@nationalmall.org, or visit our BALL for THE MALL website.
Bruce Broussard; Jill Biden; Catherine Townsend
Public Awareness & Educational Enrichment
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VOLUNTEERISM & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The Trust for the National Mall partners with the National Park Service to provide meaningful ways to serve on the National Mall. We welcome and support volunteers to help NPS Rangers educate and guide visitors and host corporations and organizations looking to give back in service to America’s Front Yard. The Trust is grateful to all who take part in this work that helps restore, preserve and enrich the National Mall. In 2023, the Trust also partnered with HUMANA, Inc. to bring the National Mall of Pickleball to America’s Front Yard—welcoming the community to play on this iconic landmark—a space for all.
Expanding Volunteers-in-Parks Program to New Sites Across the Mall Partnering with NPS to lead award-winning volunteer programming to help visitors connect to history on the National Mall The Volunteers-in-Parks program, led by the Trust for the National Mall in partnership with the National Park Service, mobilizes a diverse community of volunteers to educate visitors and help them connect to this iconic space, creating a more vibrant and engaging National Mall for all. This year, the Trust continued to expand this awardwinning program on the National Mall, adding more than 100 new volunteers and managing a team of 262 volunteers who help bring the National Mall to life for all who visit. The Trust is expanding training and recruitment to add volunteers at new sites, with a special focus on building a new team at the Horse Stables Education Center, staffed entirely by volunteers. The Trust is grateful to its generous benefactors who support this programming, including the Merrill Family Foundation, for its dedicated multi-year support of the Trust for the National Mall’s volunteer programming. The Trust is also grateful to its many volunteers who help make our impact on the National Mall possible. To learn about ways you can support the expansion of this program, please contact volunteer@nationalmall.org.
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2023 VOLUNTEER IMPACT VOLUNTEERS IN PARKS
105
New Volunteers Added
262
Total Volunteers
17,933 Hours
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National Mall Locations
450,000
Visitors Reached
Mall Hands on Deck! Day in Service to history on America’s Front Yard The Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service welcome teams of all sizes to roll up their sleeves and take part in hands-on service on the National Mall. It’s a meaningful way for corporations and organizations to engage their team members by giving back to the community and serving on this treasured American space. Days of service on the National Mall are a one-of-a-kind opportunity to work behind-the-scenes to help improve the “curb appeal” of America’s Front Yard. Teams learn to work together in new ways and support an iconic national stage. Whether painting benches, laying mulch, planting bulbs, or washing the sacred wall of names at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, this meaningful work helps unite and engage teams and helps the National Park Service care for the National Mall. Groups serving during 2023 have included the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Limited spots are available for our days of service on the National Mall. Reserve your spot today by contacting dayofservice@nationalmall.org.
MALL HANDS ON DECK
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Days of Service
$900,000
Total Value Contributed Service
National Mall of Pickleball Celebrating the National Mall as a space for ALL In the fall of 2023, the Trust with the support of its partner, HUMANA, Inc., debuted the National Mall of Pickleball—bringing America’s favorite new pastime to America’s Front Yard and celebrating it as a space for all. For three days, we welcomed the public to cheer in the stands or get out on the courts to enjoy the fastest growing sport in America and some friendly competition under the monuments and memorials. More than 7,000 visitors enjoyed the National Mall of Pickleball on America’s front yard, which gave over 800 picklers a chance to play during about 200 hours of court time. Things heated up on our center court with appearances and match play featuring Katie Couric, Rob Riggle and Chef Andre Rush.
Pros from DC Pickleball team join Catherine Townsend and Katie Couric
The event spotlighted the history of the Mall as a space for sports, commemoration and celebration and featured intergenerational play for beginners and pros alike. Programming also featured a “Cookin’ in the Kitchen” healthy cooking segment to fuel players for the game. Watch for announcements about dates and details for National Mall of Pickleball 2024...coming soon!
Volunteerism & Community Engagement
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DELIVERING ON OUR PROMISE
OUR FUTURE WORK
THE WHITE HOUSE
Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary in 2026
The Trust and National Park Service delivering marquee projects on the National Mall LINCOLN MEMORIAL
WASHINGTON MONUMENT
U.S. CAPITOL
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The Lockkeeper’s House Fully restored and reopened in 2022.
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TIDAL BASIN
POTOMAC RIVER
THE NATIONAL MALL U.S. Park Police Horse Stables & Education Center Completely rebuilt and opened to the public in 2022.
German-American Friendship Garden Fully restored and reopened in 2022.
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AND THE MEMORIAL TO THE 56 SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Revitalizing the environmental and historic integrity of the gardens and the lake to create a model urban park and a place for learning, reflection and recreation 2 NATIONAL MALL GATEWAY
Adopt-a-Cherry-Tree Program
Lockkeeper’s House
Inspiring Civic Learning Experience programs, content and exhibitions will educate the next generation of informed citizens, share new voices and perspectives, and elevate the National Mall’s historic purpose
Tidal Basin Ideas Lab
White House Gardens & Grounds Restoration
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Beyond Granite Program*
German-American Friendship Garden Restoration
Volunteers-in-Parks Volunteer Program*
Japanese Stone Lantern Plaza Restoration
Reimagining a historic site to reach its full potential as our nation’s center stage
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial | Programming, Care & Maintenance
Washington Monument Earthquake Repair
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WORK ONGOING PROGRAMS:
COMPLETED PROJECTS:
Sustainable Mall Turf Restoration *Mall-wide initiatives not located on map
U.S. Park Police Horse Stables & Education Center
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UNDERCROFT Opening to the public for the first time with a new immersive tour and museum under the memorial
America’s 250th Anniversary
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Restoring, Preserving and Enriching America’s Front Yard
CONTACT US:
information@nationalmall.org | 202-407-9408 1730 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20006
SUPPORT OUR WORK:
© 2023 Trust for the National Mall
Learn more about the photography featured in this report: www.nationalmall.org/reportphotos
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