Washington DC National Mall Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure

Washington DC, USA
Duration2h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

A puzzle adventure across the National Mall. Solve six objectives, walk about 1.5 miles, and see Washington’s memorials like nobody else does.

Six stops. Clues hidden in granite, bronze and carved inscriptions. Each one you crack unlocks the next. Part scavenger hunt, part brain teaser, from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, starting at either end.

The memorials left words behind on purpose, and most visitors walk right past them. You’ll find a carver’s mistake, a step where history was spoken, and a quiet island most people never visit. The kind of stuff that makes someone say “wait, seriously?”

Between stops, an audio transmission from Operations Center tells you what you found and where to go next. On the long walk, snap photos and our AI analyst sends back a read. Find Kilroy and earn a bonus badge.

No tour guide. No schedule. Your field guide comes straight to your phone, no app or login needed. Hints are built in so you’re never stuck.

What's included

  • Use this link for access: https://play.questthecity.com/viator/long-shadow
  • Digital quest guide with clues and a progressive hint system
  • Physical/printed materials (fully digital experience)
  • Transportation
  • Food and beverages

What to expect

The memorials on the National Mall left words behind, carved in stone, on purpose. Your team follows the trail from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial and recovers them.

1) Start at either end: the Washington Monument or the Lincoln Memorial. Open your mission link on one phone, enter your booking reference and hear your briefing from Operations Center.
2) Walk about 1.5 miles to six memorials: the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Signers of the Declaration island, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.
3) At each stop, find something real (a count, a name, a word cut in stone) to unlock the next puzzle. Every puzzle has three free hints; the third gives the answer.
4) Between stops, an audio transmission explains what you found and where to go next, with walking directions and a route map.
5) Find a famous wartime doodle at the World War II Memorial and photograph it for the bonus Kilroy Was Here badge.
6) At the far end of the route your words come together in a final transmission and you earn the Long Shadow badge.

About 1.5 to 2 hours, outdoors and free to visit. No app needed.

  1. Washington Monument
  2. World War II Memorial
  3. 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial
  4. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
  5. Korean War Veterans Memorial
  6. Lincoln Memorial

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Self-guided and fully outdoors. Starts at the Washington Monument and ends at the Lincoln Memorial. Note: once you open your link, you can choose to play in reverse, starting at the Lincoln Memorial and ending at the Washington Monument, so you can play it in either direction.

End point

Self-guided and fully outdoors. Starts at the Washington Monument and ends at the Lincoln Memorial. Note: once you open your link, you can choose to play in reverse, starting at the Lincoln Memorial and ending at the Washington Monument, so you can play it in either direction.

Additional information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
$27.00 $21.60 per group
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
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