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Washington Monument

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PaulH
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Editor Pick

The Tallest Structure in Washington DC

  • October 10, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by stvchin from Tustin, California
The Tallest Structure in Washington DC

The Washington Monument is an obelisk commemorating our first President, George Washington. It sits at the intersection of Constitution Ave and 15th Street NW, just south of the Ellipse and the White House. As it’s the tallest structure in Washington DC, it’s very hard to miss.

The Washington Monument is a 555 foot and 5 1/8 inch tall obelisk made of granite, marble, and sandstone. The pointed top cap of the Washington Monument is a large singular piece of cast aluminum. It’s located atop a small hill, which offers great views of the National Mall. On the east side of the hill is a small guardhouse manned by the National Park Service. You can obtain the free, same-day tickets required for entry into the Washington Monument at this guardhouse. The tickets are for specific entry times, and are given away on a first come, first serve basis. The tickets are very popular and run out quickly, as we were unable to obtain any tickets on several visits to the guardhouse. The tickets allow entry into the Washington Monument, where one can climb up a set of stairs to an elevator, which takes you up the rest of the way to the top, where you can peer out of the windows in the top.

At the top of the hill, the Washington Monument is surrounded by circular concrete apron and a ring of flags. A lot of people were milling around, some with tickets awaiting entry into the Washington Monument, and others resting and taking in the view of the Monument and the city below. There’s another guardhouse attached to the east side of the monument that serves as a National Park Service Ranger station. The Rangers are very knowledgeable about the Washington Monument and are welcome to questions as well as history lessons about the Monument.

The Rangers told us the Washington Monument started construction in 1848, but stopped in 1854, because donation money had run out. Then the Civil War occurred, further complicating efforts to restart construction. Finally in 1879, construction resumed, and was completed in December of 1884. The Washington Monument was dedicated on George Washington’s birthday on February 22, 1885. As a result of the stalled construction, the white marble exterior is one shade from the bottom to about 152 feet up, and a different shade after that to the top. The differences in shade are due to using different quarries to mine the marble.

When standing at the base of the Washington Monument, the view is really good from here, and one can easily spend a lot of time taking pictures, or just taking in the different points of interest as far as the eye can see. To the north, you can make out the White House through the trees. To the west, you can see the National World War II Monument, the Reflecting Pool, and the Lincoln Monument beyond. To the east, you can see the straight line of the National Mall, and the U.S. Capitol Building in the far distance. We visited in the early evening, when it started to cool down, and it made for great views too. The Washington Monument is one of those "must-see" attractions that’s definitely worth visiting.

From journal Our Nation's Capital

Nice Free Attraction

  • September 30, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by mrsmadis0n from Greensboro, North Carolina
Nice Free Attraction

We had a great time at the Washington Monument.

What made it better was that it was FREE!

If you meet at the little building by the monument at 9am of the day you want to visit, you get free tickets for that day. It was definitely worth it.

We got free tickets for later on that afternoon and came after we visited other sites and ate lunch.

Loved the elevator ride up to the top!

From journal History and Fun

Get There Early

  • February 26, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Dana Schnoor from Keller, Texas
They only hand out a limited number of free tickets each day to take the elevator to the top of the Washington Monument. Those limited tickets go FAST! The ticket window opens about 8:30 AM, we got there about 8:00 AM to get in line. With tickets in hand, you to come back at a designated time to take the elevator up to the top of the monument. You can request a specific timeframe for your tickets, but no guarentee that time will still be available.

At your designated time, you come back to get in another line, go through security, and squeeze into the elevator for the ride to the top. There is intersting things to see while you ride up, but the "must do" piece of the Washington Monument is the view of the city. The windows are small and you have many people trying to see the view at the same time, so you have to be patient!! Also, the windows are made of thick, scratched plexi-glass, so you won't be able to take arial photos of the city from there.

From journal First Trip to our Nation's Capital

Editor Pick

Washington Monument

  • May 29, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by mh75 from Harrisonburg, Virginia
Washington Monument

One of the most recognized and most visible monuments in the Washington D.C. area, the Washington Monument stands over 555 foot tall between the National Mall and the Reflecting Pool. Construction began in 1848 from white marble quarried from Maryland and Massachusetts, the Monument was completed and opened in 1888. Named after the father of the country, many people thought that the effort was an attempt to deify the first President of the country. Although it wasn't, the monument is testimony in its size and prowess to many of the qualities that Washington exhibited.

Peeking over the building scape of most of Washington, the monument really does look over the entire city from its location to the south of the White House. With fifty flags ringing the base of the monument, it is truly dedicated to the states and people of this great nation as well.

Some of the best views of the monument can be seen from the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials.

I would highly recommend visiting the Washington Monument if you are in the D.C. area. I would also suggest that you get there before 4:45pm, so you can take the elevator to the top and see the views of Washington. I, unfortunately did not arrive in time and was not able to do so, but from on-line, the views are incredible.

From journal Business Trip to Washington D.C.

Editor Pick

Washington Monument

  • March 22, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by winwiz88 from Panama City Beach and Orlando, Florida
Washington Monument

The Washington Monument along with other memorials, monuments, and the US Capitol form the Mall. The tallest structure in the District of Columbia at 550 feet, there is an elevator that takes visitors to the observation level at 500 feet.

Planning your Visit
When starting to plan your trip to Washington, D.C., planning your visit to the Washington Monument is critical if you are intending to go to the top. During the tourist high season, from approximately March through September one can expect to have a hard time in obtaining tickets. Your best bet is to plan what day and time you will specifically visit the Washington Monument. Then when you have figured this out you will want to book tickets. Go to the National Park Service Reservations website to check dates and availability. After doing so you will be able to reserve your free tickets. However, as there will be a small service charge to process your reservation. You can than pick up your tickets from the Washington Monument ticket booth will call window.

If the dates or times you want are not available, you still have one more option. Starting at 8:30am you can pick up free same day tickets completely from the ticket booth. Be advised that lines can be long during the more tourist congested months and tickets will run out if you get there too late.

Visiting the Monument
After securing your ticket, you will probably have a little bit of time before getting into line. Take a moment and walk around the monument on the circular sidewalk. Heading up to the base of the monument you will see brown wooden signs that display a time on it. There will be at least two lines, so make sure you get in the correct one. Go ahead and get in line, shortly a park ranger will be along to brief your group and collect tickets. After that, you will enter the monument, clear security and get in line for the elevator.

At the top you will have ample opportunities to look in each cardinal direction at the famous sights of Washington, D.C. There are two windows in each direction and at each window is a description of what you are seeing out of the window. In the early morning, do be careful when looking out the window, as condensation forms around the window and you could wind up with a soaked head.

After taking in your various sites of D.C., head towards the stairs to the 490 foot level. This is where you will wait for the elevator back down. While you are waiting feel free to visit the gift shop. Yes, there is actually a gift shop 490 feet in the air in the Washington Monument! The elevator will take approx. three minutes to return to the ground level.

Have a great time on your visit to the Washington Monument!

From journal Spring Break in Washington, D.C.

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