Beside the south side of the Tidal Basin is another memorial often forgotten about. It represents a figure who's also forgotten in history. The George Mason Memorial is very nice and simple. Highlights include the fountain and garden, along with a statue of him on a bench. You can be the only ones here unlike at many monuments in DC, which is quite a change. He was an important figure in the Constitutional Convention. It was in 1787 when delegates met. They came from each state. It was quite a process. They ratified the Constitution there. He didn't. Mason was one of the objectors. He didn't approve of a few things in it. One thing he was opposed to in it was that it allowed slavery. It didn't stop him from later serving in Congress. There he served the state of Virginia. It seems appropriate that this is in an obscure location because he's an obscure figure. Later a university was named for him. That's about the only thing people ever associate him with. read more

George Mason Memorial - Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The George Mason Memorial is close to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and is a lesser known one. In fact, I didn't even know about it until we saw it on our way to the Jefferson Memorial. It's near the Tidal Basin and south of the FDR Memorial. George Mason is long forgotten as a founding father. He was the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights which inspired the U.S. Bill of Rights. There is a sculpture of him crossing his legs, and while there was a lot of space for the memorial there wasn't much else. The little water reservoir was empty and it just looked plain and desolate. George Mason was a forgotten father and this felt like a forgotten memorial. read more

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If you are visiting DC seeing the monuments and memorials are a must. The George Mason Memorial is on the Hains Point Loop trail, we were not familiar with this memorial so we checked it out. George Mason was an author and his writings inspired several important documents. The memorial itself is smaller but nice. If you want a break you can sit near the fountain on a bench for a rest. read more

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Great tour guides and loved the self guided walk around the property. Missed out on the boat tour but would love to do next time we visit.

The George Mason Memorial is one of the lesser known memorials on the National Mall. It's along the Tidal Basin close to the Jefferson Memorial. It's a circular plaza with several marble benches, one that has a large statue of George Mason, a man who influenced the Bill of Rights. I wouldn't make it a point to go here, but if you're walking by, stop by! read more

George Mason Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Bottom Line: A lesser known memorial but worth a stop to honor and pose with this member of the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787. George Mason's memorial is a little off the beaten path and lesser known. The memorial consists of a garden, fountain, pergola and statue of George Mason. Even through the memorial is technically on the National Mall it is not on a well traveled pedestrian path and it's kinda tucked away to the side. There isn't parking nearby so the best access is via foot or bike. In the hot summer of 1787 a bunch of dudes adorned their powdered wigs and tights and met in Philadelphia to reform the government of a young nation. This event became known as the U.S. Constitutional Convention and the outcome was the United Staes Constituion. George Mason participated in this significant event but opposed the Constitution and refrained from signing it because he objected to slavery and a few other terms. Mason was elected to the Constitutional Congress because he was active in the Virginia government and had successfully drafted agreements for the state of Virginia. read more

George Mason Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

All the other memorials get all the press and buzz and photos so you don't need my two-cents on any of them (although everything inside the National Mall is really worth the visit). But this wee little memorial a stone's throw from the Jefferson Memorial deserves a stop-by. The 'Forgotten Founding Father' was probably the most 'woke' (look at me stealing my kids' lingo trying to appear hip and cool!) of the bunch and another inspiring individual that did his best to shape our great country early on and maybe some of our sadder chapters in history could've ended a lot sooner. Maybe. read more

Excellent. 1) This Monument is less touristy. 2) Great place to sit and relax. 3) Must visit. read more

George Mason Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have a really hard time giving a memorial 2 stars, but come on guys, George Mason is having a bad day. For such an esteemed man, you think we'd give him a better deal. The George Mason memorial is a little off the standard path between Jefferson and FDR. There is a plaque describing his accomplishments and then a large bronze statue sits on the bench. His size is a bit odd because he's no big like Lincoln, but he's definitely larger than life size. The fountain directly in front of the statue wasn't working and was dirty and sludgey. Hopefully we are able to give this one a bit of love in the future so people will come visit more often. read more

George Mason Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

George Mason was young Thomas Jefferson's mentor. My daughter said this was a MUST SEE because its noted as the most often overlooked memorials in Washington DC. True to her statement, indeed. True. Busses of tourists park on the street just beyond this memorial, only to walk away, towards the tidal basin and the TJ Memorial. The George Mason Memorial is rather unkempt. Its not well maintained -- the grass is high, the weeds are prevalent. The fountain in the middle has a trickle coming from the top -- probably as a means to prevent the mosquito larvae from thriving. Alas, it doesnt. All of us were bitten by bugs on our visit to this memorial. Sad to say -- put on bug spray before you visit. read more

George Mason Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have never seen this monument, and it's off the beaten path. It's a beautiful garden and fountain with an amazing statue of Mason. It's definitely worth a stop. read more

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As a DC tour guide, this is one of my all-time favorite memorials. People don't know squat about George Mason, so here are the three highlights I normally give: 1. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, but refused to ratify the constitution because he didn't think it went far enough in protecting individuals' and states' rights. 2. He was a driving force behind the addition of the first ten amendments to the constitution, which are known as the...... Bill of Rights! Some of the rights that we hold today as sacrosanct, such as the freedom of speech and of religion, no unlawful search and seizure, trial by a jury of your peers... etc. THOSE WERE NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION. Until.... George Mason led the charge to have them added as the bill of rights. 3. Finally, he wrote a document in the 1770s called the Virginia Declaration of Freedoms. It predated and inspired the American Declaration of Independence, the French revolution, and... was an inspiration for the United Nations when they wrote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the 20th century. IMAGINE writing a document that shapes history just that much. George Mason did that. Now of course, you'll have to ignore whatever construction is going on. Maybe the fountain ain't flowing... or even full. But go to the memorial, think of the things above, and read the inscriptions on the wall.. and meditate on what it takes to live so greatly by your values. PS - Also, for the young or young-at-heart, sit next to George and take a picture doing the exact same pose as he is. It's a great photo souvenir! read more

Not many know about this memorial but it's a good one. I visited September 1st, 2018 and when I went there was construction but I could tell if it was at its prime, the memorial would be very beautiful (which is why I'm giving this a 4-star rating). There is no fee to go to the memorial/ monument and the intended audience for this destination is to give information on George Mason as he had a pretty large influence on American politics and it succeeds at doing so with text around the monument for people to read. read more

George Mason Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is tourist stop number five for my uncle, dad, and myself. The George Mason memorial features a garden, a small bench, and a bronze statue of George Mason. As one of the new monuments, this is easily one of the lesser known monuments in Washington D.C. and it shows. Seriously, there was no one around. It was so peaceful, I could have read a book here. Speaking of books, George Mason statue has a few next to him. One of them features the last name, Rousseau, on the binding. I will award one extra star for this alone, since Jean-Jacques Rousseau was my favorite political philosopher, an amazing writer, and pretty much the only thing I enjoyed reading while obtaining my B.A. in Political Science. So if you are ever in D.C. and want a less crowded tourist stop, please come here. Where is the love for the guy that pushed for and heavily influenced the "Bill of Rights?" Random little factoid: James Madison wrote the "Bill of Rights," but they were pretty much based on the "Virginia Declaration of Rights" that were written by George Mason. That random little factoid is for those that don't know. And by the looks of the crowd here at the George Mason Memorial, that is a lot of freakin' people. read more

The George Mason Memorial is one of the lesser known monuments yet it is quiet simple and beautiful. It has a little circular garden that you walk through to encounter George Mason sitting on a bench. Surrounding Mason, there are quotes engraved into the walls. Reading these quotes, my admiration and respect for Mason grew. A nice memorial to check out during the Cherry Blossom Festival. read more

I think I am honest here when I rate this specific landmark with a 2-star rating purely really for the condition this particular memorial is in: POOR. There was hardly anyone there visiting or even bothering to stop by to see who the memorial due to the poor condition of everything since it doesn't look like it's been maintained or cared for at all. Even the small mini fountain in front of the statue lays barren and dirty as there isn't any water even in the pool at all. Quite sad really to see that all other monuments are somewhat cared for and this one lays forgotten off to the side of the grand Jefferson Memorial. read more

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George Mason had some big calves, and the ladies loved him. That is all we learned about him while on our walking tour as we sped past. His home in VA is also a good tour where you can learn considerably more about him. read more

I'm glad there's a memorial to George Mason because he was an important founding father but not as well known as others. His biggest claim to fame was being the father of the Bill of Rights, so he deserves fame and a good memorial. This memorial is fine but not very well maintained. I liked discovering it because it's away from the hustle and bustle of the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, so it's a quiet place to reflect, but it's not as grand or informative as the other monuments. I like that Mason's statue is life-sized instead of the giant statues of Lincoln and Jefferson because it makes him feel like an ordinary person. This is also symbolic because his Bill of Rights was designed to help protect ordinary Americans from big government. You can visit this memorial on your way around the tidal basin to see the FDR and Jefferson memorials. read more

This is probably one you can skip. It's a small cul-de-sac path between several roads and a highway. There's a statue, but not much in the way of great views or educational value. Clearly not as much effort was put into building it or maintaining it as most of our numerous monuments. Unlike with most of them, George Mason is a relative unknown. Curious visitors are probably better served by spending their time in DC elsewhere and reading a good history book. read more

I visit this monument every Saturday on my monument bike tour route with friends from out of town. George Mason Monument is located next to Tidal Basin, and very close to Jefferson Memorial. It is very hard to find it unless you happen to research it online or stumble upon it by accident driving, biking or walking in the area. There's not much here. A single informational sign explains who George Mason was. The memorial itself is a bronze statue of Mason sitting on a bench in a landscaped garden surrounding a small fountain. This is a nice, quiet spot away from al the tourist visiting nearby monuments and memorials; a good spot to stop to rest and relax, but not much to see or do here. read more

The George Mason Memorial is a very humble memorial compared to all the other ones in DC. Even as a native Washingtonian, i have not ever heard or seen this memorial until now. We were on a bike ride along 395, and I saw that there was a small fountain on the bottom of the hill. Upon taking a quick detour, we realized it was a small fountain for George Mason! Being that George Mason apparently served as an inspiration to Thomas Jefferson while drafting the Declaration of Independence and often a neglected Founding Father, this is also quite a neglected memorial. The statue of Mason is slightly larger than human size, and there are a few benches. The area did not look like it has been cleaned or maintained in awhile. Still a very peaceful part of DC near the Jefferson Memorial and Haines Point. read more

A nice memorial, but it's obviously not been kept up or maintained. The fountain is covered in sludge and the plaques are almost unreadable because of the dirt. The statue itself also desperately needs to be cleaned. read more

George Mason Memorial - Pond scum at the George Mason memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is not worth going out of your way to visit, but it is a nice, relatively secluded spot to relax for a bit. The couple of times I have been here there was nobody else around, so it is one of the few monuments that you can have to yourself (along with the WWI monument). read more

I was happy to have the opportunity to walk around this memorial. I drive by and miss it all the time. The grounds are spacious and you can walk around. Bonus points for a fun statue on the bench. read more

When George Washington calls George Mason 'the wisest man of our generation' I take notice. When Thomas Jefferson calls George Mason a mentor. I wonder why I have not noticed this superhero of the creation of the United States before. I admit my history may not be at a scholarly level, however this man is really important. His contributions helped form this country. The memorial is small and diminutive by comparison to Jefferson's huge prominent monument. The George Mason Memorial is tiny compared to the Washington Monument that is an always visible part of the DC skyline. Interesting, so very interesting. This man will be a part of my historical research as I gain a few more insights into the creation of this nation. read more

The poor George Mason Memorial gets no love. It's on a part of the mall that is seldom frequented by non-locals and it's terribly maintained. Poor guy, I mean he is, after all, the author of our first Bill of Rights. I personally wasn't aware that there was more than one. read more

This memorial is underrated. George Mason looks so jaunty and pensive! Not to mention he is reading Cicero! It's a quiet location and it's a nice place to sit for a while and have a conversation. I highly recommend this memorial. read more

I searched for him after I learned about who he was during the 2006 NCAA Basketball Tournament. This guy wrote the Bill of Rights! He has a lil garden and a bench and is on the walkway from the Jefferson Memorial to it's parking lot. read more

Came here in June and it looked great! Returned in July and all the flowers had died and the fountain was more like a swamp. Mr. Mason would not be very happy if he were to visit his memorial today to find it in the condition that it was in. read more

As a part of a Cherry Blossom VIewing walk last week, we discovered this beautiful garden and memorial. On the Google map I also noticed that the bridge at this point is also named for this relatively obscure Patriot and Founding Father. His estate south of DC is also very interesting for those who would like to know more about his life. read more

A little oasis from the tourist frenzy a little further to the west at the FDR memorial. I give this more stars than it might otherwise deserve just because it is so close to all the tourist hustle and bustle while seeming so far in that it is nice and quiet. Garden could use a little more care, otherwise, come here to relax a bit while showing some out of town friends and/or family around. read more

This monument is near the Jefferson Memorial. Its one of the lesser known monuments with a garden and a fountain. George Mason, a lesser known Founding Father known for writing the Virginia Declaration thought: "...all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience." This is a quiet place where you can take a break from visiting the sites. read more

Many people will visit the wonderful Martin Luther King Jr memorial and read his words on the gracefully flowing wall behind him. A short walk back to the Jefferson Memorial should include a stop at the George Mason memorial. George Mason didn't want to sign the Constitution as he was completely against slavery. Compare his words to those of the Reverend Martin Luther King and you will find many similarities. Similar themes can be found as you walk through the FDR monument with its many waterfalls. These three monuments will fill a morning or afternoon that will provide much pride and good thought about our good country. read more

This memorial is located between E Basin Dr. SW and Ohio Dr SW near the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. There is no fee to visit it as it is one of the many free memorials in Washington, DC that are maintained by the National Parks Service. This memorial commemorates George Mason, one of the Founding Fathers, and is a great place to visit to learn a little more about him and his part in our nation's history. The memorial is very simple compared to some of the other memorials in the area. A path leads into a somewhat secluded garden that is reminiscent of a plantation garden. There is a central fountain and the path leads around that to a pergola under which is a seated statue of George Mason with his books around him. I visited the memorial a couple weeks ago on a nice, sunny day. It is sort of tucked away so we stumbled across it on our way to the Jefferson Memorial. Apparently the park was designed so simply to reflect Mason's modest nature. I thoroughly enjoyed this memorial for its simple design and tranquil feel. It definitely does a good job of commemorating George Mason and sharing a little more information about his life and work. More information about the memorial can be found here: http://www.nps.gov/nama/planyourvisit/George-Mason-Memorial.htm read more

We found this intriguing memorial on our walk to the Jefferson Memorial. The Memorial is a beautiful park surrounded by flowers and trees. There is a fountain in the middle of the memorial and a statue of George Mason sitting on a bench. The Memorial is a national monument to George Mason. It is near the Potomac River crossing also named for Mason. There is free public parking near the monument. Along with James Madison, he is called the "Father of the United States Bill of Rights. George Mason wrote and led the passage of Virginia's Declaration of Rights, which the colony adopted just two weeks before Congress declared American Independence. The Declaration is considered one of the most important constitutional documents in history. The Virginia Declaration sets forth many of the important principles that would shape American government and law for years to come, including: "...all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience." Few men had more influence on the shaping of our Constitution than George Mason. As a member of Constitutional Convention, Mason was an outspoken advocate for federalism and limited government. As a member of the Virginia ratifying convention, he proposed a set of amendments that later served as a model for our Bill of Rights. read more