Marine Barracks Washington presents its Sunset Parade on the Lincoln Memorial Plaza, featuring the Marine Band, the Drum and Bugle Corps and the incredibly impressive precision of the Silent Drill Platoon. The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the Washington Monument and the US Capitol serve as a grand backdrop to the metaphor of precision, accuracy, dedication and discipline required to become a United States Marine.
In 2019 alone, 24.6 Million people traveled to Washington, DC to take-in a mere fraction of what their nation’s capital city has to offer. Beyond the monuments, the US Capitol, the White House, Smithsonian museums, and the National Mall, I insist that friends and family visiting Washington put a few things at the top of the list. Among them, the National Archives where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and Bill of Rights are securely kept in inert gas helium; Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Changing of the Guard ceremony; and George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate.
Touring Washington can be a physically grinding venture. Unlike many other cities, you cannot simply drive and park from one destination to another. Bring your walking shoes, cab fare and a little extra for well-spent money on tickets for the hop on-hop off tour buses.
And a difficult rule of thumb for many parents to deal with: wait for your toddlers to age a few years before making a trip to DC. Kids will remember the grandeur of Washington when they’re old enough to understand government. And parents won’t be worn out carrying babies, pushing strollers, and maneuvering through the city with kid cargo, all before lunchtime.
Tucked away at 8th & I Streets in the Capitol Hill neighborhood is the Marine Corps Barracks, home to the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Marine Band, the official Marine Corps Color Guard, and the Marine Corps Body Bearers.
Summer brings an expanded list of opportunities to experience the best of what America has to offer. Chief among them is the Marine Barracks’ Friday Evening Parade, conducted Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day, featuring the Marine Band, the Drum and Bugle Corps and the incredibly impressive precision of the Silent Drill Platoon. Tickets are free, however limited.
In addition to the ticked Friday Evening Parade, the Barracks offers a Tuesday “Sunset Parade” on the Lincoln Memorial plaza. No tickets or reservations required.
