Albert Einstein Memorial

The Albert Einstein Memorial is one of those landmarks that only DC locals would stumble upon. It’s not exactly in DC’s guide books and it’s not a memorial to make a trip to DC for, but if you’re going to the Lincoln Memorial, walk a few blocks to the Einstein Memorial. It’s a giant statue of Einstein sitting on stairs reading a book. Two things are cool about it: 1) You can climb into his lap for a photo opp without getting in trouble, and 2) If you stand in the center of the circle facing Einstein, your voice sounds awesome.
Enjoy it!

Incroyable memorial qui cache une surprise. En suivant les lignes et les cercles, placez vous au niveau de l’épicentre, et criez très fort votre nom. Quelque chose d’incroyable se produira!
Il faut le vivre pour comprendre!

Bottom Line: A cool lesser known memorial to one of the greatest scientists on the Northwest end of the National Mall.
The Albert Einstein Memorial is a cool little place to visit on the Northwest end of the National Mall that was erected on his 100^th birthday in 1979 and honors his significant contributions to science. The best way to get here is probably by foot, bike or bus. The closest Metro stop is Foggy Bottom-​GWU (Orange, Blue and Silver lines) and then its about a ¾ mile walk. The memorial is visible from the street and always open to visitors.
Mr. Einstein, in all of his bronzed glory, sits outside of the National Academy of Sciences building where he has been delighting visitors for 36 years. The statue is way bigger than I imagined. He is 12 feet tall, sitting down, and visitors can crawl in his lap for a photo op or to see what he is reading. It appears he is reading equations about the photoelectric effect, the theory of general relativity and the equivalence of energy and matter — all things that I will never understand!
More relatable to me at this monument than the scribed scientific equations and surrounding celestial map are some of Einstein’s great quotes like, «As long as I have any choice in the matter, I shall live only in a country where civil liberty, tolerance, and equality of all citizens before the law prevail.» I find this to be a lovely quote from a man who immigrated from Germany and later became a naturalized citizen of the US. Additionally, Einstein was a great proponent of civil rights and dedicated to antiracism.
Not only was Albert Einstein way smarter than I can imagine, but he was a loyal citizen to the United States and helped out with World War II effort in his own ways. In the 1930s Einstein was visiting the United States when Hitler came into power. Being Jewish, Einstein decided not to return to Germany. He hopped around Europe a little bit before settling in the United States permanently. In 1940, Einstein became a citizen of the United States and as a loyal countryman who was tipped off by fellow scientists, warned FDR that Nazi Germany may be developing «powerful bombs of a new type» and he recommended that the United States do the same although he didn’t necessarily agree with using nuclear weapons. Not too long thereafter the super secret Manhattan Project was initiated in Los Alamos, NM and later the controversial bombs were dropped over Japan.

It’s worth a stop by.
If you can make a stop to see him, it’s pretty darn cool.
It’s a large statue and apparently good luck to touch his nose.
He’s under the trees by the science museum and across the road from the lincoln memorial.

cool huge statue. not much besides that. good enough to find a picture online and it’s the same. only need to see this once.

If you are near Lincolns memorial, or the Vietnam memorial, then you are just steps away from the Einstein memorial. It is certainly worth a look, and a great spot for a fun photo op with your family or friends. I highly recommend walking over to see it if in the area. It sits just outside of the National Academy of Sciences. If you are at one of the other memorials just walk down Henry Bacon and cross the street, you cant miss it.

Settled in front the National Academy of Sciences that was founded by Abe Lincoln in 1864, sits the famous Albert Einstein Memorial. It would only make sense that Mr. Einstein would have a memorial in this appropriate location.
The statue constantly has people climbing on him to grab a photo op. His nose is actually discolored from the rest of the memorial because they believe that if you rub his nose — it will make you smarter. It still hasn’t brought me any luck for the two times that I have been over there. Maybe 3^rd time is a charm?
Mr. Einstein is also not wearing any shoes in his memorial. Fact is he knew what E=mc2, but he didn’t know how to tie bunny ears aka his shoes. It seems very fitting for such a brilliant man.

What a great memorial to one of our greatest scientific minds! It is fun for all ages to climb up and take a picture. Great location, right next to the Mall. Nice way to spend a few minutes of your day.

After touring the Vietnam Memorial, step a short distance away for something a lot less depressing. In front of the National Academy of Sciences, the Albert Einstein Memorial remembers the great scientist who brought us «Relativity» and «E equals emm cee squared.» His three most famous formulas are written into the «book» in his lap.
And behind him, carved into the granite, three of his most famous quotes. One is:
«As long as I have any choice in the matter, I shall live only in a country where civil liberty, tolerance, and equality of all citizens before the law prevail.»
Unlike the Lincoln, where climbing is not permitted under any circumstances, Albert climbing is absolutely permitted. But if you do so, please monitor your kids because there are no handholds and landing on the bronze would probably be painful.

How cool is it to be so close to a renowned GENIUS??!
E=mc²
So short, yet such a revelation! The equations written on the book are difficult to read or take a clear photo of, but the rest of this famous figure is HUGE. Seeing his sandals makes me think that my high school physics professor looks even more like Einstein. Uncanny resemblance! The pose and material make Einstein look old and a bit funky, but hey, it’s Einstein. I guess he’s meant to look a little strange.
Make sure to take a photo sitting on his lap! Everyone else does it. Maybe it’ll impart some knowledge. *Crossing my fingers*

why five stars? its an EINSTEIN memorial!!!
how cool is that? very cool i tell you.
a HUGE Albert Einstein head to take pictures with! Take and send a pic to Grandma — she will be thrilled and at the same time have no clue you are in DC.
I went at night which made it quite cool — and its very tourist-​free as no tourist even knows about it. well those that don’t use Unilocal

Ziemlich überrascht stellten wir fest das es ein Denkmal für Albert Einstein mitten in Washington gibt.
Und noch Überraschter waren wir das es keine Figur auf einem großen Sockel ist sondern ein richtig witziges, nettes Denkmal.
Also, hinsetzen und Foto machen! :-)

This is one of the notable non-​political memorials in the area and one of the least touristy monuments in DC. Located on the grounds of the National Academy of Sciences, it’s just across the street from the much more well known Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Our hero didn’t even have to jostle with other tourists to take a picture here, which is a huge plus!
This monument to our hero’s scientific hero is lifelike, but somewhat playful at the same time. Einstein is seen in a relaxed pose in his later years, just chilling out on the steps with some papers in his hand. Equations on the scripts in this figure’s hand refer to the theory of general relativity, the photoelectric effect, and mass-​energy equivalence (also known as his famous E=mc² equation). It’s not heavily guarded or anything either, so you can take a picture sitting in his lap or whatever pose you can imagine if you’d like. Overall, this is a great tribute to the #1 physicist of all time. I can’t imagine a Stephen Hawking memorial looking quite as cool.
PROS:
— It’s got an astronomically correct diagram of over 2,700 heavenly bodies as seen from Earth at the time of the dedication of the monument inlaid into the dias.
— Very cool overall design, incorporating a lot of Einstein’s scientific equations and personal quotes into it.
— Aptly located at the National Academy of Sciences.
— Shaded from the sun and heat, with lots of seating to hang around at.
— Easy to take photos of.
CONS:
— It’s on the small side compared to other monuments and not quite as impressive in photographs. Pictures don’t do it justice.

If you like drunken photo opportunities, there isn’t a better monument in DC than the Albert Einstein Memorial. While some people like to take family friendly photos over here (the girl I was with decided to do the sweet Santa Claus on the leg style photo that is apparently very popular), you can also act appropriately douche-​like and pretend to fellate an oversized Einstein or you can moon him from the book while he dismissively looks away. Not that I would ever suggest that someone deface a monument in these childlike manners. I just pretended to read the book while nestled under Einstein’s massive right arm. But given its location near GWU, there is nothing that would surprise me as far as how this monument has been treated so to speak.

I found it, I found it! Finally! I know, it’s on the map, it can’t be that hard to find, right? But it’s currently in the middle of a small construction site. You can’t get close and sit on his lap or anything.
But I hope in the future, when the construction around the National Academy of Sciences is done, to come back and get my picture taken with Einstein.

My favorite monument in DC. Probably because most people don’t know it’s even there. He’s a little hard to find and some seasons he’s hidden by the trees. Unlike the other monuments you can climb on Albert Einstein and take cool pictures.

The Albert Einstein Memorial: 2101 Constitution Ave, NW
A mathematical pimp and hair enthusiast, Albert Einstein sits in the shadows of the Lincoln memorial willing to entertain anyone who dares cross the street. The ground is a celestial map of the sky and if you stand in the center, you get a single person echo when you talk to him. Hes hidden. catch him on the way to Lincoln Memorial!

What is real? Who are we?
E=mc2. Theory of general relativity.
A magnetic pull sends you in my direction
Now ponder your life, pause for reflection
Come sit on my knee, come sing me a song
Unload your burdens, I judge not right or wrong
Through wormholes, cosmos, physics and light
A molecular fusion, a wondrous sight
Our energies collide under moon or sun
We are already connected; you, me, everyone
–DKV
«imagination is more important than knowledge.»
— Einstein

Cozy place off the National Mall area. Good spot if you want to sit down and eat and enjoy the people running around across the street.
Very hard statue to find at night so go in the day time

This is such a fun spot to visit. Of course, you should go with someone so one can hold the camera and take pics… or you need to be a good judge of people if asking some random peep to take your picture.
My suggestion, look for someone with a nicer camera than yours. Why would they want to steal your piece of crap?
It’s a theory. Let me know if it works.
As for posing, climb all over him! I assume you you can’t sue the city for falling off Einstein’s shoulders and breaking your head open on the pavement. Why? Because there are no signs warning you of such a foolish act.
Einstein is very slippery. Who knew?
Another safety tip: in the cold of DC winter, putting your tongue on Einstein is not such a good idea. Again… theory. Let me know if that works ok for you I’m not trying it.
Epic fun. Sort of like a cat with a paper bag. It’s hard to actually say WHY it’s so cool, but it is.
So deal with it.

Awesome, not only because you can climb onto Albert’s leg and take a Santa what-​i-​want-​for-​x-​mas shot, but also if you stand in the middle of the semi-​circle, your voice will echo. Very eerie.
Check out Albert’s oversized head, and the stars and math formulas. Definitely a cool, quick memorial.
Closest metro is Foggy Bottom. And the walk from the mall is a good hike, but it is purty.

Albert Einstein is awesome… and the fact that his foot left a dent in my sister’s ankle after annoying me made my day.
Of course, karma bit me in the butt later that day when I hurt my ankle, but whatever :)