The Washington Monument

15th St. &
Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 426-6841

The Washington Monument, the most prominent landmark in Washington, DC, stands as the centerpiece of the National Mall. At 555 feet tall, it towers over the skyline as the tallest structure. Authorized by Congress in 1833 and designed by architect Robert Mills, construction began in 1848. In 1854, with the Civil War looming, construction halted for almost 25 years. It took until 1878 for building to resume under the auspices of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Marble from two different quarries was used, resulting in a change of color about one-third of the way up. The exterior of the obelisk was finally completed in 1884. President Chester A. Arthur dedicated the landmark in 1885. The interior opened to the public in 1888. Today, an elevator takes visitors on the 70 second trip up to the 500 foot landing for magnificent views of the city. Open: April to September from 8 a.m. until 11:45 p.m., and from 9 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. the rest of the year. Free tickets for a timed entrance are available at the ticket kiosk on15th Street near the base of the monument. Visitation can be heavy and ticket lines can be long. Advance tickets are available for a service charge through Ticketmaster of Washington, DC. Admission: Free Metro Stop: Smithsonian Links: National Park Service Washington Monument National Mall

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