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The Washington Monument stands at 555 feet along the National Mall in Washington, DC. Construction began in 1848 and was completed in 1884. The monument was built to honor our first President, George Washington. You can take tours of the monument for a fee.
Once you walk up to the Washington Monument you will notice that it's viewable from every area. It is huge. I didn't realize how big until I viewed it up close.
Go inside! It's free same day tickets or pay $1 online to reserve tickets for specific times. Worth the sights of DC. 500ft above and you can see all the National Mall.
This was the first monument I saw when I was in 6th grade and after many visits since then it never gets old. I always seem to start here first. My wife and I started here last weekend and walked 13 miles around downtown and the entire mall area. My favorite time for viewing is right before sundown. The view from the Lincoln Memorial is also stellar!
I've been to the Washington Monument several different times in my lifetime but, have only been to the top once when I was a teenager. There are several ways to get to the top - purchase a ticket in advance from the website, try to get one on site (I don't recommend that), or you can use a tour site like Viator or Get Your Guide. It's something I believe everyone should do at least once, but it's cramped and there are small windows at the top that aren't the cleanest, so, it was somewhat disappointing from what I remember. Walking around outside the monument and enjoying the lawn and surrounding area are 1000% a must and worth it.
Five stars for the mighty Washington Monument. Rising 555 feet into the sky, this marble obelisk honoring George Washington isn't just a landmark it's a statement carved in stone. Construction began in 1848, stalled for years because of politics and lack of funding, and finally wrapped up in 1884. It cost about $1.2 million back then (a fortune at the time), and for a few glorious years it was the tallest structure on Earth. Built from marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, the monument stands like a giant exclamation point in the heart of the National Mall simple, bold, and unapologetically American. But facts only tell part of the story. The real magic happens when you stop treating it like a postcard and actually step up to it. I watched a couple guys lying on their backs with their feet pressed against the base of the monument, staring straight up. Looked ridiculous... so naturally I had to try it. I dropped down, put my boots against the stone, leaned back, and looked up. Suddenly that monument doesn't just look tall it feels impossibly tall. The sides shoot up into the sky like they're trying to poke a hole in heaven. Then you turn your head. One direction, the long reflecting pool stretches toward the dignified silhouette of the Lincoln Memorial. The other way, the wide green sweep of the National Mall runs on forever. And somewhere in that moment you realize something about Washington, DC: a "block" out here feels like a mile. Your feet are barking from the walking, but somehow you don't care. So here's my recommendation: don't just drive by and snap a photo through the window. Walk up to the monument. Touch the stone. Lay down on your back. Put your feet against the wall and look straight up. Be a kid for a minute. That's when this place really hits you.
Awesome cherry blossom kite event during peak bloom weekend, 3/28-29. Tons of sun, with some great wind, making it ideal for kite flying all morning and afternoon. Free kite kits (sponsored by Amazon) Design / build your kite using crayons, tape, hole puncher, scissors, string, etc. Then, fly it as high and long as you can, with hundreds / thousands of others.
Great little stop for photos if your walking the area. Has a ton of grassy area to sit down, have a picnic, relax, have some drinks. Cute little tourist stop.
It was a great day and nice to visit. We spent a few days seeing the sights and this was one of the best photos I took.
Ensure to book your time to go up early. While I did not go on this day, I have been previous and it was a fun experience!
Posting this on my birthday feels intentional. Standing at the Washington Monument the day before; which also shares this birthday; felt symbolic in a way I can't fully explain. There's something powerful about looking up at a structure built to honor legacy while quietly thinking about your own. I felt grounded. Safe. Present. The energy around the monument wasn't loud; it was steady. Families walking. People reflecting. Strangers connecting. History and humanity intersecting in one open space. Looking up at the monument against that clear blue sky reminded me that growth takes time. Strength takes intention. Legacy takes commitment. This birthday, I'm grateful. Grateful for peace. Grateful for another year. Grateful to stand tall in my own story. If you're ever in DC, take a moment to witness it. Stand still. Look up. Reflect. Some places don't just mark history; they make you think about the history you're building.
I work in DC, so the Washington Monument tis something I pass by all the time, but the recent visit was very special. Visited earlier this year during the 250-year celebration light show and went on the last day to catch both the illuminated display and the fireworks. Experiencing it with my husband made the night even more memorable. Finding street parking wasn't too difficult, which was a nice surprise, and the atmosphere felt relaxed, more locals than tourists. Seeing such a familiar landmark transformed with lights and celebration gave me a whole new appreciation for it and America. I hope they host events like this more often. It was a beautiful way to celebrate the monument and enjoy DC in a unique way.
The Washington Monument and surrounding War Memorials are nicely displayed to honor the Veterans. You cannot travel to DC without paying respect to the Memorials.
Reviews are largely positive. Visitors highlight the iconic and historic landmark, breathtaking observation deck views, and well-maintained grounds.
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Beautiful grounds. Absolutely clean. The park rangers are ALWAYS on point. Informative professional and SUPER!! We got a chance to tour inside and I highly recommend this tour if you are lucky enough. Bucket list cross out read more
6 years ago
Very nice place to visit. The grounds are very well kept. Barely any trash on the ground. No bums begging for change. They have soda, ice cream & food trucks parked on the street nearby. Very nice place to bring the family. Tons of other people around of all nationalities. Also they have marked federal police posted everywhere nearby so you don't have to worry about crime really. All-in-all one of my favorite places to visit whenever I'm in the area. read more
I truly can't believe I'm reviewing the Washington Monument but here we are. I still have yet to travel to the top despite living here for over 5 years. It recently shut down again for tours, but you can still visit the grounds. I didn't realize so many memorials and landmarks were central to here either, especially my favorite memorial-WWII. I honestly felt somewhat uneasy this visit- hardly anyone was wearing a mask (tourists is my guess). It was more crowded than I thought it'd be. They have good signage for in this way, out this way. Parking is on the street-super easy during COVID times. read more
It's only $1 to reserved the times ticket entry to go up the elevator to the top of the Washington Monument and it was worth it! We went in October, the weather was crisp and clear blue sky. The view from the top was magnificent. Make sure to get the ticket on Reservation.gov on 1 day before your visit! Visiting Washington Monument should be on York list if you're visiting DC. read more
The historic Washington monument is a beautiful and majestic structure. The grounds leading upto it are large and well-maintained. You will see lots of runners and people cycling. The view from the base is beautiful ! You can also see the White House from there. We parked near the National mall and walked around the various places nearby. It's a short walk from there to Washington monument. There are also restroom facilities nearby . They do offer tours to the top of the building but due to COVID restrictions, they are limiting people and should be booked online in advance. Worth visiting when you are in DC! read more
8/7/21 I was glad to see people could go back into the Washington Monument, but getting in can be tricky, but not impossible. I haven't been inside the Washington Monument in a long time. Back then you could get in easier than you can now. Still, times have changed and the guards seem to be more down to earth. Still, people are walking on the grass even though it is asked not to walk on the grass. So much for reading. read more
3 years ago
May 2023: 5: I came to this location as a result of being invited to a graduation. I decided to stay and check out the monuments in the nearby area. How can you not, want to see the structure when you're so close? I had a great time at this location in addition to seeing this young lady graduating from the George Washington University Masters program. read more
Always beautiful and so much taller the closer you get. I read that when it was built it was the tallest structure in the world. Wow! Can you imagine. It is now the tallest structure in DC and I think the zoning keeps it that way. The marble stones used to construct it are huge and really pretty. read more
7 years ago
4 years ago
Definitely a must-visit when you're traveling to DC! Everything was amazing from the staff with great hospitality to the view up at the top. Not only were we able to admire the beautiful scenaries from all 4 sides of the monument but the labels of the major buildings looking out from each side helped tremendously and made the experience so much more insightful. I really like that we were able to learn so much from the visit about the history of the monument and to see examples of the different stones contributed from cities and states all over the country. I especially enjoyed looking at the older pictures of each side and compare them to the current view! read more
6 years ago
Not much to report as I only walked by it. Still standing that's a good thing. The cherry blossom give it a great look. read more
2 years ago
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4 years ago
I could see this monument from the plane as we were landing and I instantly got excited. When we finally decided to walk over by it, I was just amazed at the architecture. I was a bit bummed out because it's closed until the spring of 2019. Nevertheless, just gazing at it was enough for the time being. Even though it is closed, you can still snap some pretty cool pictures of it! I was just happy to be able to finally see it in person. It is beautifully lit at night! read more
Took a trip to DC and visited some of the famous landmarks that the city has to offer. The Washington monument was cool to see and worth the walk. The park has long wide paths that are perfect for riding the electric scooters and provide ample space to hang out and explore. The National Mall is huge and a great experience for any tourist! read more
7 years ago
Review #244 - 2019 My first time here was back in June 2011, when I was able to get a pretty nice close up with the monument, but I can't locate that picture anymore so I can't really recall exactly what it looked like back then. My return trip on Sunday, September 1st, is a much clearer recollection, where there were scaffolds and fences blocking off the bottom of the monument since there are so many crazy people out there who are looking to destroy all of our nation's historic sites. The monument itself is a site to behold, but the history behind it is just as great! There were so many people just walking around peacefully & taking pictures of and with it so I don't understand why anyone would want to do any harm to it. I wish we could go back to a time when people actually had some common sense and humanity. read more
3 years ago
Although the Washington Monument is closed till next year, in my eyes it's still 5 stars and one of the coolest landmarks in all of the National Mall area in DC. I believe it temporarily closed a few years ago due to an actual earthquake hitting Washington and rupturing the beams of the monument that rendered it unsafe to tourists. Still, when exploring the heart of downtown Washington DC, this iconic memorial cannot be missed. I'd say it's located in the middle of the National Mall strip (which is the center of all the cool places to visit in DC). On a clear and sunny day, the Washington Monument is very photogenic. It's surrounded by a long stretch of grass so if you grab lunch or a snack at the row of food trucks right by the street, this area is great for sitting down and relaxing and appreciating the views of the monument. One thing...if you do get a bite to eat at food truck row, be careful of prices as they may rip you off. I paid $8 for a snow cone and almost lost it! Lol. The Washington Monument was also the meeting place for my Free Tours By Foot of the National Mall area. So for any of you taking in the DC sights, beginning here is a great way to start your DC journey. Also, if you walk up close to the Washington Monument, there's a circle of American flags encompassing it. This truly is a sight to behold, especially for folks exploring the city. Like I mentioned, either side of the monument is picturesque. So although access inside and to the top of the Washington Monument is currently closed, it still didn't deter me from appreciating this emblematic memorial! read more
7 years ago
If you visit Washington, D.C. you have to go see the Washington monument. It is an amazing awesome sight to see. We have seen it so many times on TV but, it is completely different to see it in person. We stopped and took the time to soak in everything around the area, especially the reflection of such a magnificent structure. We hear it's a wonderful sight at night with all the lights. Unfortunately, we could not go back to see it at night so that will have to be enjoyed on our return trip. read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
Simply surreal Everything about dc But when you are standing here You can see both the capitol and lincoln memorial read more
4 years ago
What a neat piece of history to go see and explore. The area is so large and you can walk and enjoy the area 360. Plan on wearing comfortable shoes, and packing layers if the weather is chilly, because the wind was serious the closer we got to areas of higher ground. the foliage around the monument are equally as beautiful in late November - early December as the leaves change, and that makes for so many photo ops around the area! read more
4 years ago
So beautiful. If you can go in the spring, I highly recommend it! Late May, early June. The later in the day you go, the less school groups you'll run into. So many amazing things to see. read more
My best friend's mother affectionately calls this "the pencil" and one look at it definitely explains why. Upright, standing tall, and unmoving, the Washington Monument is a recognizable icon worldwide. A symbol of freedom, it has been around for ages. Currently the monument itself is temporarily closed, as the signs around it, repetitively tell you, but they are referring to the inside and/or tour. The actual monument itself is still open for all to see. Once you actually walk in, you are able to stare at this monument in all its glory, and goodness, it is massive. It is quite an impressive sight really. If in the area, by all means, go and visit. Take a few photos. Oh, and go at night; the lighting just makes this piece of history even more astounding. read more
This 555' 7 11/32" commemorative obelisk to George Washington was the world's tallest building for 5 years until the Eiffel Tower (in Mar 1889) but is still the world's tallest obelisk. Can see it from afar but a visit to the grounds and seeing it up close surrounded by 50 flags is much better. The 23 year gap in building plus using stone from 2 different quarries resulted in 2 different facade colors at the bottom 1/3 vs the top 2/3. Need timed tickets to go up to the observatory level. Currently there is a large posting of the number (almost 700K) of those who passed away due to Covid and a white flag for each of them, which amounts to a somber sea of white flags on the grounds. Timed tickets 1. released at 10am for next day entry (& gone within minutes) 2. offered only on online via Recreation.gov or at 1-877-444-6777. 3. free but $1 reservation fee per ticket. 4. 6 tickets limit per reservation 5. void when monument closes for high wind & thunderstorms 6. no time limit at the observatory (2 windows on each side of pyramidion) 7. elevator up to observatory level but need walk down 1 flight of stairs to take elevator down 8. no bathrooms in the monument (but there is one History 1833: private organization WA Nat'l Monument Society (WNMS) formed to fund & build this monument 1848: (Jul 4th) building starts as the 1st cornerstone (from quarry near Baltimore) is laid down 1853: donors stop funding WNMS when board elections bring in a group that favors a controversial political party Know-Nothing 1854: WNMS is bankrupt & the building stops at 156' (the bottom 1/3 of the plan) 1855: monument architect Robert Mills dies 1861-65: Civil War (Apr 12, '61 to Apr 9, '65) 1876: (Jul 5th) Congress takes over the funding & building of the monument. They 1. fortified the base 2. used Massachusetts quarry stones for the bottom 27% of the monument wa 3. reduced wall thickness from 13' to 9' after ~1/3 up from the bottom (this change is visible from the inside) 4. changed to Baltimore quarry stone for the top remaining 2/3 of the monument wall (resulting in a noticeable color change in the facade) 5. used a steam powered elevator in a 20' iron frame to move stone & mortar to build 20' of the wall at a time 6. placed a 300 ton 55' pyramidion (15' at base & 1.5' at top with a 7" thick marble wall) on top 1884: (Dec 6th) 3,300 pound marble capstone with an 8.9" aluminum tip 1886: open to the public with an iron staircase 1888: reopened to the public with a steam elevator (10-12 minute ride to top) 1901: electric elevator replaced the steam elevator 1933: National Park Service runs it & restores it 2016: 3yr to update elevator (now 70 seconds ride to top) Located practically in the center of a cross layout (but placed slightly to the east of direct center of cross because of swampy ground conditions) 1. .8mi north of Thomas Jefferson Memorial 2. .8 mi east of Lincoln Memorial & Reflection Pool 3. .8 mi south of The White House 4. 1.6mi west of The US Capitol read more
Someday I'll get to the inside of the Washington Monument. Seems like every time I get to DC it's either a line around the building or it's under some kind of renovation. Either way, it's a pretty amazing building and stands like a beacon on a hill. You need to be close to the monument to feel how immense the building actually is. read more
PRESIDENTIAL ERECTION "I did not have sexual relations with that obelisk" - Bill Clinton, 1998 This monument, a fitting tribute to "Wild" Bill Clinton's scandalous tenure while in office, stands 555.43ft tall and for four years was the tallest structure on Earth (surpassed by Le Tour Eiffel in 1889). Even 132 years later, it's still the world's tallest stone edifice. Construction began in 1848 but the infrastructure wasn't fully completed until 1888. This gigantic wiener monument is made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss. Don't ask me what the hell "gneiss" is, because I have no goddamn idea. I'm not going to be "gneiss", so be big boys & girls and google it yourself. Those with an eagle eye will notice that roughly 1/3rd of the way up, the shading of the marble changes. This is due to a work stoppage from 1854 to 1877 caused by lack of funds and the Marvel Superheroes/American Civil War, among other things. When work resumed in 1878, they couldn't obtain marble from the same source so they had to find the closest color match. The internal workings were closed in September 2016 to address issues with the antiquated elevator system; the top viewing area will remain closed throughout 2017 and 2018, scheduled to re-open at some point in 2019. Because of that, this awe-inspiring phallic structure loses a star. Still, it's a humongous stone boner that's 1/10th of a mile high. Women (and some men) will flock from miles around just to touch it, because when you're this *rock hard*, everybody wants to feel it for themselves. But please, no spitting. ;) ;) read more
Even if you say you've been to the monument when you were a "kid" or in "high school" on that one trip, definitely go back as an adult if you're visiting. Not only is it super cool and there's lots of history, but it's just a really nice walk through the park and relaxing with a nice breeze to sit at the base and maybe have lunch or lounge. They weren't offering rides to the top when we went, but add it to your list! read more
9 years ago
The Washington Monument is a historical landmark standing 555 feet tall, located in the National Mall in DC, built in honor of George Washington. For those of you who haven't been here before, there's a lot to see and do and most of it is all within walking distance. We made the HUGE mistake of going on a stuffy, stinky guided bus tour with several foreigners that were hacking all over the place without covering their mouths, (My husband swore they had SARS! They were grayish in color, clammy and looked very ill). We actually dissed the tour bus after the second stop because we couldn't take it anymore. We would have much rather done it on our own at our own pace in germ free fresh air!!!! LOL read more
Shortly after moving to the area the Washington Monument reopened and we were lucky enough to go up a couple of times. Then it closed again. But fortunately it just reopened again, and for now at least you can wait in line in the morning for tickets. I work close by so this is what I did instead of lunch today. It was great! You can always count on the National Park Service to show you something amazing! read more
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Is there parking available in the area? Can you do meter parking or some deck parking?
Not much parking at all. Not worth getting a ticket. Most people find it best to take public transportation
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