Sunlight on the National Mall vs AR Memory DC
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sunlight on the National Mall
Explore the sun's path over the Smithsonian Castle in a 360° environment. Observe how its position shifts across different seasons and record your findings using the provided data sheet.
- 360° National Mall view
- Sun arc simulation
- Seasonal sun path changes
- Interactive data sheet
- Smithsonian Castle focus
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View the arc of the sun as it moves throughout the day over the Smithsonian Castle. See how the arc of the sun changes in two separate seasons: Winter and Spring. Look around the National Mall in full 360°. How does the Sun's position in the sky change? Use the Sun Data Sheet to record your observations.
AR Memory DC
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The National Mall in Washington, DC is at the center of national memory in the United States. It features several world class history museums, iconic memorials and many historical markers. Yet, much of the nation’s painful history remains forgotten, especially in the open spaces of the Mall. The National Mall Memory AR app helps you discover and learn about some of the more difficult chapters in US history. Select the AR function, look through the camera to see virtual historical markers near you on the Mall. Look at the map to find the location of all virtual markers.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: AR Memory DC at every 16 months against Sunlight on the National Mall's every 33 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sunlight on the National Mall ships an update every 33 months, AR Memory DC every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sunlight on the National Mall | AR Memory DC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 33 months | Every 16 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 120 MB | 133 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Smithsonian Institution | Ka Man Yan |
In-app purchases
Sunlight on the National Mall
No in-app purchases
AR Memory DC
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Sunlight on the National Mall free?
Is AR Memory DC free?
Do Sunlight on the National Mall or AR Memory DC have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sunlight on the National Mall or AR Memory DC?
Other comparisons
