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.

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!

The size of the monument is what hits you... it just seems to hover over everything else in the area. I guess that is what you would expect from a father... so why not from the father of this country? It really is indescribable how magnificent to see the monuments reflection in the reflecting pool... no matter how many photos or how many movies you have seen it in... it doesn't prepare you. Then, of course, the views from the monument… of the entire city. Unfreaking believable! Well worth the aggravation of getting up at the crack of dawn to ensure that you get your hot little hands on a ticket. Hours of operation are 9am to 4:45pm daily.

Tickets to visit the Monument are free of charge, however everyone (even children) needs to have a ticket. You can get tickets in advance from the National Parks service reservation system (this is for a minimal charge of $1.50). Or, you can get timed tickets at the 15th Street kiosk (located at the base of the Monument). Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8:30am until all tickets for that day are gone. Tip: Each person can get up to 6 tickets. You can take the Metro to the Smithsonian stop. The Monument is at the West end of the National Mall.

Washington Monument: 900 Ohio Drive, SW (Entrance to the Monument is on 15th St. SW).
Visitor Information: (202) 426-6841

Composed of two different types of stone from two different quarries, this statues is more beautiful than actually depicted. It is even larger than some pictures make it seem! The monument is next to a giant reflecting pool for all to see. This monument is a small skyscraper, reaching high into the sky. There is a way to get to the top, but I am uncertain as to how much it costs. Just stay outside though, the view is gorgeous.

The Washington Monument is truly a landmark worth visiting. It is free to get in, but you do need to get free tickets to reserve a time. There is limited space and the line-ups would be horrendous otherwise.

To get your ticket you have to go to the ticket booth early in the day. They give out tickets from about 8am until they are all gone. No strollers are allowed inside the monument, because of very narrow passages, and also because the elevator picks you up a floor lower than it lets you off.

We got to the ticket booth around 10:00 on a cloudy, rainy Saturday. We could have had tickets for as early as 11:30, but we chose 1:30, figuring it would give us time to wander off and see something else first. We got back right at 1:30 and went to the lineup. The Monument is run by the US Park Services, so there are Park Rangers who let you in and bring you up in the elevator. They were very friendly and knowledgeable about the monument.

Once inside the building you have to let your bags get searched and go through a metal detector. (Rather standard in DC these days). Then you are taken to a line-up for the elevator. The elevator lets people on and whisks them up to the top of the monument (Well, as high up as it will fit) to the observation area. There are 2 windows on each of the four sides of the building, so you have to take turns looking out. There are also labelled photos at the window so you can figure out exactly what you are looking at. Very helpful for figuring out which Smithsonian is which and that sort of things.

One of the two windows on each side had a small step that the kids could stand on so they could see. The 8-year-old could see a bit without it, but not the 4-year-old. You can stay on the top level as long as you want and then you walk down one flight of stairs to catch the elevator. There is also a gift shop and some museum-type displays on this level.

The elevator takes you back down, pausing to look at some of the donated stones. We learned that all of the states donated a stone that was native to that state. There were also stones donated from cities such as Boston and New York. The park ranger on the elevator gave us information both on the way up and the way down, so it was great. This was someplace that the 8-year-old really wanted to see and he was so excited that he got to go up to the top. He loved the view. Even on a rainy, cloudy day, the view was impressive, although the pictures are a bit foggy looking.