Apple Rolls Out 3D Maps With Custom-Designed Landmarks in Washington, D.C. and San Diego [Updated] - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Rolls Out 3D Maps With Custom-Designed Landmarks in Washington, D.C. and San Diego [Updated]

Apple today announced that a new 3D map of Washington, D.C. in the Apple Maps app will allow users to explore the city's landmarks and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The new mapping experience does not appear to be visible yet, but it likely will be soon.

apple maps 3d washington dc
Alongside the release of iOS 15 in September, Apple Maps gained new 3D maps with more detail and custom-designed landmarks in select cities, including Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and London. Apple said the 3D maps would be rolled out to additional cities later this year, including Philadelphia, San Diego, and Washington, D.C., and Apple previewed the feature in Washington, D.C. today in honor of Veterans Day.

Apple is honoring Veterans Day with special content in the App Store, Apple Books app, Apple TV app, and more. There is also a Veterans Day-themed Activity Challenge that Apple Watch users in the U.S. can complete by recording any workout for 11 minutes or longer today with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to the Health app.

veterans day 2021 activity challenge
Apple CEO Tim Cook today tweeted that he is "grateful today and always for the dedication and service of our veterans and their families, and the invaluable experience they bring long after they have left the military, including here at Apple."

Update Nov 12 10:00 a.m.: The new 3D map experience is live not only in Washington, D.C., but also in San Diego.

Popular Stories

veterans day 2025

Veterans Day Apple Watch Activity Challenge Launches November 11

Tuesday November 3, 2026 12:18 pm PST by
Apple is planning an Apple Watch Activity Challenge for Veterans Day, which takes place next Wednesday in the United States. Apple Watch owners are tasked with doing any workout for 11 minutes or more on November 11. Apple Watch owners who complete the challenge will win an Apple Watch activity award in the Fitness app. Earn this award on November 11 by doing any workout for 11 minutes or...
iOS 28 AI

Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28

Sunday November 8, 2026 7:42 am PST by
Apple has made a change to its development process for iOS 28, macOS 28, and corresponding software updates, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, he said Apple separates development of each year's new operating systems into three major stages. Typically, he said each stage consists of four weeks of coding followed by a four-week "convergence" period where...
apple pro tell logo

Apple Launching Two More New Products This Friday

Monday November 9, 2026 4:22 am PST by
The Apple launches keep coming! The company is set to release two new products on Friday, November 13: the all-new Apple HomeView and the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, both of which have been available to pre-order since mid-October. Apple HomeView: Apple's new smart home display, powered by Apple Intelligence with Siri AI, for entertainment and managing the home. Available in tabletop and...

Top Rated Comments

65 months ago
1 more down and only 3 billion places to go. I live in a major North American city and still don't have 3D maps, what now, a decade since Apple introduced 3d Maps. Not sure how Google was able to 3Dize the world so quickly and Apple is just proud to release a new 3D city a few times a year. Forstall Took the brunt of this but what is the excuse now?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Crash0veride Avatar
65 months ago
So by the time they actually release a large number of cities, the majority will be completely out of date.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kirky29 Avatar
65 months ago
Ah, couple of monuments done. Maps team can take the rest of the year off! Good work guys!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SBlue1 Avatar
65 months ago
What's the point of releasing just one city each quarter? Is there just one part time designer working on this??? What is Apples goal? To have all of the 32 NFL cities covered by the end of the decade?! They should release ten cities across the world each day! How hard is it to pay a whole team of artists to speed things up. Pathetic.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️ Avatar
65 months ago
Very lovely! 3D Maps, it’s only getting better.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
65 months ago

1 more down and only 3 billion places to go. I live in a major North American city and still don't have 3D maps, what now, a decade since Apple introduced 3d Maps. Not sure how Google was able to 3Dize the world so quickly and Apple is just proud to release a new 3D city a few times a year. Forstall Took the brunt of this but what is the excuse now?
Do you even use Apple Maps? Every place in the US has 3D buildings now, including small towns, and has since Apple rolled out the new map from 2018-2020. 3D buildings are available everywhere the new map is, which presently includes Canada, the UK, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. They are not as fast at rolling out the new map I and many Apple Maps fans would hope, but that's unrelated to this update.

What is being released today are more detailed 3D models and the new "city experience" and yes, they are only available in now five metros (NYC, LA, SF, London, and now DC). Google Maps similarly has more details maps of some cities, which for example will have detailed crosswalk info, but that is also relatively uncommon (Google has it in NYC, not in DC, for example).

Here's info on the "equivalent" Google feature, and it only covers four metros presently: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/10311344?hl=en
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Here's What Apple Fixed in iOS 27.2.1 and macOS 27.2.1
Here's What Apple Fixed in iOS 27.2.1 and macOS 27.2.1
7 hours ago
Webex Gets iPhone Duo Support
Webex Gets iPhone Duo Support
8 hours ago
Meta's Muse AI Agent Comes to Apple Watch
Meta's Muse AI Agent Comes to Apple Watch
9 hours ago
Anker Launches Eufy Security Cam With Auto-Tracking Light
Anker Launches Eufy Security Cam With Auto-Tracking Light
9 hours ago
macOS 27.2.1 Fixes eMudhra Certificate Flaw in Command-Line Tools
macOS 27.2.1 Fixes eMudhra Certificate Flaw in Command-Line Tools
10 hours ago
Anthropic Launches Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2
Anthropic Launches Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2
11 hours ago
Apple Releases macOS Golden Gate 27.2.1
Apple Releases macOS Golden Gate 27.2.1
12 hours ago
Apple Releases iOS 27.2.1 With Bug Fixes
Apple Releases iOS 27.2.1 With Bug Fixes
12 hours ago
Apple Releases watchOS 27.2.1 and visionOS 27.2.1 With Security Fixes
Apple Releases watchOS 27.2.1 and visionOS 27.2.1 With Security Fixes
12 hours ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Gets $99 Amazon Discounts, Starting at $699.99
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Gets $99 Amazon Discounts, Starting at $699.99
13 hours ago
Apple Pay Ad Features Martial Arts Convenience Store Food Fight
Apple Pay Ad Features Martial Arts Convenience Store Food Fight
13 hours ago
Apple Continues to Say Some AI Features Will Have Fees for Extra Usage
Apple Continues to Say Some AI Features Will Have Fees for Extra Usage
13 hours ago
Apple Announces Türkiye Expansion Plans as Tim Cook Visits
Apple Announces Türkiye Expansion Plans as Tim Cook Visits
14 hours ago
Singapore Saved Apple $2.7 Billion in Taxes This Year
Singapore Saved Apple $2.7 Billion in Taxes This Year
14 hours ago
Apple Music's 2026 Artist of the Year is Olivia Dean
Apple Music's 2026 Artist of the Year is Olivia Dean
14 hours ago
This Could Be Your Last Chance to Pre-Order the HomeView at a Discount
This Could Be Your Last Chance to Pre-Order the HomeView at a Discount
15 hours ago
Some HomePod Mini 2 Buyers Returning Units Over Mac Speaker Issues
Some HomePod Mini 2 Buyers Returning Units Over Mac Speaker Issues
15 hours ago
MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display: Details You Might Have Missed
MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display: Details You Might Have Missed
15 hours ago
Satechi Offers MacRumors Readers 30% Off Select Accessories in Early Black Friday Sale
Satechi Offers MacRumors Readers 30% Off Select Accessories in Early Black Friday Sale
16 hours ago
Leaker Envisions a Shorter iPhone With a New iOS Layout
Leaker Envisions a Shorter iPhone With a New iOS Layout
16 hours ago
Apple to Give You More Control Over When Your Mac Passwords Lock
Apple to Give You More Control Over When Your Mac Passwords Lock
17 hours ago
Siri Is Getting a Better Memory
Siri Is Getting a Better Memory
17 hours ago
iPhone 18e Could Feature Bigger Display and Battery
iPhone 18e Could Feature Bigger Display and Battery
18 hours ago
Apple's Siri Boss May Leave - Here's Who Could Take Over
Apple's Siri Boss May Leave - Here's Who Could Take Over
18 hours ago
Apple Launching Two More New Products This Friday
Apple Launching Two More New Products This Friday
18 hours ago
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
1 day ago
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
2 days ago
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
2 days ago
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
2 days ago
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
2 days ago