The
most prominent landmark in Washington, DC, the
Washington Monument, 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
The
Washington Monument
15th St. &
Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 426-6841
The
most prominent landmark in Washington, DC, the
Washington Monument, 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: