Complete your visit to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial when you stop by the Visitors Center, conveniently located less than two blocks away at 605 E Street, NW.

With more than 30 exhibits, an interactive video kiosk, and display cases containing hundreds of compelling mementos left at the Memorial, the Visitors Center explains the history and significance of the Memorial and the thousands of law enforcement officers it honors.

At the Visitors Center, you'll see dramatic photos of the Memorial, including a wall-length mural of the opening ceremonies in 1991 and a rare photo of the memorial site and its surroundings as they appeared in 1890. You'll also see a display about the National Law Enforcement Museum, scheduled to open in 2011, and a new exhibit featuring memorabilia from Ground Zero on "The Deadliest Day in Law Enforcement History" — September 11, 2001.

Wyatt Earp, 1848-1929, is perhaps the most famous lawman of them all. He became a legend in his own time, serving as the law in such fabled Wild West Towns as Dodge City, Kansas, and Tombstone, Arizona-where in 1881 he and his brothers with the equally legendary John Henry "Doc" Holliday won the epic gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He retired from 1882 after avenging the death of his brother, Morgan.

The interactive video system gives you brief biographies and a photograph (where available) of each fallen officer, along with their respective location on the Memorial walls. The video system also features a survey and video clips of some of the Memorial's milestone events, such as the dedication and groundbreaking ceremonies. Display cases throughout the Visitor Center contain personal mementos left at the Memorial by visitors, including touching notes and poems, police patches and pins, and drawings and photos.

The Visitors Center gift shop has a wide variety of special commemorative items bearing the Memorial name and distinctive rose and shield logo. At the gift shop, you can purchase t-shirts, patches, hats, posters, flags, books, videos, and many other items through which you'll remember your visit to this special place. A portion of the proceeds from your gift shop purchase goes toward a permanent maintenance endowment for the Memorial.

(You can also order most of the same Gift Shop items from our online Gift Shop. Click here to shop.)