RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Washington, D.C.'s National Mall and the surrounding area have been transformed into an IndyCar racetrack ahead of this weekend's Freedom 250 Grand Prix , and for many visitors, the challenge may be figuring out which roads remain open and which of the capital's most famous attractions are still accessible.
The first-ever Freedom 250 Grand Prix will send IndyCars around a 1.7-mile, seven-turn circuit looping through streets around the National Mall and U.S. Capitol. Drivers will complete 147 laps, totaling 250 miles, as part of celebrations tied to America's 250th anniversary.
A Newsweek map shows the race route, the impacted landmarks and attractions, and the wider restricted traffic area that now dominates part of downtown Washington.
Newsweek reached out to Freedom 250 Grand Prix for comment via email Friday afternoon.
The race course itself uses some of Washington's most recognizable streets, including Pennsylvania Avenue, Constitution Avenue, Independence Avenue and sections of 3rd, 7th, and 9th streets. In addition to the roads making up the circuit, a much larger network of closures and parking restrictions stretches across the National Mall area and nearby downtown blocks.
District officials have urged residents and visitors not to drive downtown during race weekend, warning that traffic restrictions extend well beyond the course itself. Metro officials have similarly promoted rail travel as the easiest way to reach the area.
Several of Washington's most visited museums sit inside or immediately adjacent to the race perimeter.
Access to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Museum of Natural History is restricted during race weekend, and visitors may be required to pass through race security checkpoints or hold event credentials.
The National Gallery of Art also lies directly beside the course. The museum has told visitors they will need a Grand Prix ticket to visit on August 22 and 23. Ahead of the event, the museum reportedly boarded up outdoor sculptures after conducting studies examining potential vibration impacts from the race.
Other landmarks affected by the broader event footprint include the National Archives, Smithsonian Castle, Federal Triangle and several Metro stations that now serve as primary access points into the race zone.
Supporters see the event as a major tourism opportunity and an unusual way to showcase the nation's capital. Organizers have described it as a historic race weekend, and city officials have highlighted the expected influx of visitors.
“Washington, DC is a world-class city. And we know that world-class cities host world-class sporting events," Mayor Muriel Bowser's office told Newsweek . "By 2030, we will have all our professional sports teams playing in our city limits; we’re proud of that.
"Likewise, we’re proud to host big events, whether it’s an All-Star week or the NFL Draft, or the first-ever IndyCar series race in Washington, DC, and it’s not just fun and games for our city. These are events that draw tens of thousands of people to our city. Those visitors stay in our hotels, go to our restaurants, they visit our neighborhoods. For DC, that means more good-paying jobs and more opportunity for our workers and businesses. We celebrate that and we’ve been proud to welcome motorsports to our nation’s capital.”
Residents interviewed by local media have complained about navigation difficulties caused by fencing, barriers and road closures. Visitors have reported having to take lengthy detours to reach museums and monuments that are normally connected by straightforward walking routes across the Mall.
Preservation groups have voiced separate concerns. Historians and art advocates questioned whether race cars traveling at high speeds near historic buildings could risk valuable artworks and federal landmarks.
Tourists can still access many of Washington's major attractions, but doing so may require additional planning.
Officials continue to recommend Metro as the primary transportation option, pointing visitors toward stations including Smithsonian, Federal Triangle, Archives-Navy Memorial, Judiciary Square, L'Enfant Plaza and Federal Center SW.
Yet for many visitors, the National Mall experience has fundamentally changed this week.
Instead of open lawns and uninterrupted views between museums and memorials, parts of the federal core are now lined with security fencing, grandstands, barriers and race infrastructure, creating a dramatically different backdrop for one of America's most visited tourist destinations.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Sam Wilson .
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