Local Tips for Visiting the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove in Washington DC

The LBJ Memorial doesn’t offer many visual clues that it’s dedicated to the 36th American president. There are no statues—at least, not in the conventional sense, like at the FDR, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, or MLK Memorials—and not even any photographs. Instead, there’s a large rock.

But it’s not just any rock. It’s a large chunk of granite from the Texas hill country near Austin where LBJ grew up.

Local Tips for the LBJ Memorial in DC

• Not to put too fine a point on it, but this is a rock surrounded by a grove of trees. There are some nice views across the Potomac. There are a few signs explaining what you’re looking at, but that’s about it. It’s a place to take a break, sit and reflect, enjoy the relative quiet, or have a picnic. It’s not somewhere you have to budget in time to see everything.
• The ideal way to get there is by bike or walking along the GW Parkway trail along the riverfront.
• There are two parking lots nearby. Both are free and unmetered. If you’re heading south on the GW Parkway, there’s a large parking lot for the marina. On the other side of the creek (technically, Boundary Channel), there’s a parking lot next to the Pentagon. Make sure to use the small lot by the bridge, not the main, huge Pentagon lots.
• There’s a public restroom nearby.
• There is a small store by the marina and a small restaurant that’s open during the summer months (more information).
• Confusingly, you’re actually on an island, and that island is actually on the Washington DC side of the border. The small creek out the back with the marina is Boundary Channel, and that’s where the line between Arlington and Washington DC is.
• If you’re there in the early spring, there are large patches of daffodils that come up in the field next to it. It’s a great place to take some photos. If you’re there in the fall, there are a few very impressive and photogenic maple trees in the field that often get beautiful fall colors, and they make beautiful backdrops for photos.
• It offers a very good vantage point for the July 4 fireworks, but the parking lot is often closed for that event.
• I don’t recommend going after dark. It’s quite remote and isolated, so be sure to use common sense in terms of personal safety.

What’s Nearby to LBJ Memorial Grove?

• While you’re there, walk over to the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial. It’s across the other side of the road, but do not try to cross the road. Instead, walk towards the small bridge–there’s a pedestrian tunnel under that that will get you across.
• The Pentagon Memorial is also walkable, although it’s on the opposite side of the Pentagon, so it’s a bit of a walk.
• It’s also quite possible to walk, and certainly ride, across to the National Mall. You can cross either via Memorial Bridge (which connects to the Lincoln Memorial) or the 14th Street Bridge (which will put you out at the Jefferson Memorial). Both have sidewalks/paths you can safely use.
• Arlington National Cemetery
• United States Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial)
• Theodore Roosevelt Island
• Gravelly Point Park. Good place for a picnic and for watching planes landing and taking off from Reagan National Airport.

About the LBJ Memorial in Washington DC

This isn’t to be confused with the LBJ Library and Museum, which is in Austin, Texas.

The center of the memorial is a sunset red granite monolith weighing 43 tons, standing 19 feet high, with the rock itself estimated to be about a billion years old. It was quarried from an area about 35 miles from LBJ’s beloved LBJ Ranch in the Texas Hill Country.

Around its base are stones with some quotes from LBJ inscribed. They read:

The promise of America is a simple promise: Every man shall share in the blessings of this land.

I believe that every boy and girl in this great land has a right to all the education he or she can use. . . . I intend to work to make this right a reality.

All my life I have drawn sustenance from the rivers and from the hills of my native state. . . . I want no less for all the children of America than what I was privileged to have as a boy.

I hope it may be said, a hundred years from now, that by working together we helped to make our country more just for all its people. . . . I believe at least it will be said that we tried.

The granite monolith sits amidst a grove of trees (mostly white pines and dogwoods) with some walking paths meandering through the trees.

The grove sits adjacent to a grassy meadow. The layout was designed by landscape architect Meade Palmer. From much of the area, there are views across the Potomac of some of the monuments such as the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument.

According to his wife, Lady Bird, Lyndon Johnson used to like this spot on the Potomac, with its views of Washington DC’s monuments across the river. Apparently, it reminded him of a river near his childhood home.

And every president could be excused to want to escape the pressure cooker of the White House for a while—LBJ doubly so with the Vietnam War dragging the country, and his presidency, down.

Photos of the LBJ Memorial

More About LBJ Memorial Grove

• Located within Lady Bird Johnson Park along the Potomac River
• Consists of two main areas: the first with a grove of white pines, and the second featuring a grass meadow
• Designed by Harold Vogel as a living memorial to President Johnson
• Contains a 19-foot Texas granite monolith and stone tablets inscribed with quotes from President Johnson
• Offers trails, picnic tables, and drinking fountains for visitors
• Provides a natural environment for relaxation and recreation

The LBJ Memorial Grove is a serene and peaceful park situated within Lady Bird Johnson Park along the Potomac River. The grove, designed by Harold Vogel, serves as a living memorial to the late President Lyndon B. Johnson and offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C. It consists of two different areas that provide a natural environment for visitors to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

The first area of the LBJ Memorial Grove features a grove of white pines, which symbolizes the President’s love for the environment. The second area is an open grass meadow, surrounded by dogwood trees, that offers a space for picnics and relaxation. Throughout the park, there are short trails for leisurely strolls and exploration.

At the heart of the LBJ Memorial Grove is a 19-foot Texas granite monolith, which is the focal point of the park. A spiraling flagstone walkway leads visitors to the granite plaza, where several stone tablets are inscribed with quotes from President Johnson. These quotes help to provide insight into his views on the environment, social issues, and politics.

The LBJ Memorial Grove offers a variety of amenities for visitors, including picnic tables, drinking fountains, and plenty of free parking in a large parking lot. On a nice day, visitors can enjoy the park’s scenic trails or launch a kayak into the Potomac River for a unique perspective of the area.

Taking Photos at the LBJ Memorial

There’s no problem taking photos, using a tripod, or using a flash.

As a technical matter, commercial shoots and filming may require a permit, but that’s only likely to become an issue if you’re using a large crew or a lot of equipment.

In the early spring, the meadow next to the memorial is filled with daffodils. And in the fall, there are some large trees that with colorful leaves that can provide a pretty backdrop for fall family photos.

Getting to the LBJ Memorial

Cartographers will point out that Lady Bird Johnson Island is technically within the DC boundary. The border between Virginia and the District of Columbia runs down the middle of the small waterway known as Boundary Channel. But unless you’re coming by boat, the only way to access it is from Arlington. So for all practical purposes, it’s in Arlington, VA.

It’s a quiet and low-traffic area that’s accessible 24 hours. It can be secluded and deserted after hours, so use common sense to maintain personal safety. There are no NPS staff stationed here.

There are two parking lots next to the memorial. One is next to the Columbia Island Marina, with the entrance from the GW Parkway heading south (there’s no way to get in from the lanes heading north, so go up to the roundabout at Memorial Bridge to come back around).

The other parking lot is the other side of the channel next to the Pentagon’s north parking lot. It’s then a short walk across a small wooden footbridge to the memorial.

The nearest Metro station is Pentagon. The station is on the other side of the Pentagon and across the expansive parking lots, so it’s a bit of a walk from there across to the memorial and not well signed.

A more scenic option is to walk along the river, either from Memorial Bridge or Arlington Cemetery or coming from the other direction from the Jefferson Memorial, across the 14th Street Bridge (there’s a walkway on one side of it), and past the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial.