The iconic obelisk is something everyone knows and has seen at least in photos. Walking up to the top of the rise where the monument dominates the center of the Mall, affords the visitor an excellent view of the city. The Washington Monument itself is an amazing, understated memorial to our greatest founding father. One of the most intriguing things to consider while taking in the scene is the breadth of visitors. Take a moment to listen to the flags snap in the breeze and the voices of excited visitors related in dozens of languages their awe - all while taking in the beautiful view. Obviously a must see for any visitor! read more

Washington Monument - Touch History. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Not sure where they get the 'scheduled to reopen' date but it sure still seems indefinite for this massive 'symbol of masculine power'. Right now you can walk right up to the exterior, but not enter, let alone ascend. read more

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You can see the Washington Monument from almost anywhere in the Mall. Does not give you the same chills the Lincoln Monument does but still a must see site. Hard to get a good picture with it. You either have to be far away or get a partial site picture up close. My favorite view is from Lincoln with the pool. I know its a national treasure but every time I see it, I think, that toothpick though! read more

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Love this place! I didn't get to go up in it... but just seeing it makes me a happy happy man. I have been here a few times now in my life and it is awesome to see such an old obelisk standing tall and representing our wonderful country. I am a big fan. I love the absolutely simple design of the monument surrounded by a ring of flags providing a view of the surrounding countryside and it is utterly beautiful to just gave upon it. I have done so in the bright light of day and by the subtle hues of the moon and streetlights. Both are awesome. I just know that this single building is one of my favorites in Washington DC. I consider this to be an absolute must stop to see in DC to just stand and gaze upon if nothing else. read more

Even with the scaffolding around it, there is no mistaking it! Just to be close to it makes one feel they just had a chat with George himself! Could say many things about this great monument but it's all been said before. As Christan C. said in his review, "Sing the most American song you can think of in your head". Well put! read more

Washington Monument - Even with the work being done you still gotta love it! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It was an awesome sight, coming here for the first time. Until now we only have seen it on TV or in pictures, and now we are standing in front of it. The best thing was that we came back in the evening, it was the 4th of July, and while we were sitting on the ground next to this monument, we saw the fireworks, and with every 'explosion' we could see the scenery light up, and in awe we soaked up this experience. We came back a few times, but it was never the same as on that night on the 4th of July. read more

The world's tallest obelisk.... is in the USA! It's in honor of the first president, George Washington, with spectacular views of the Lincoln&Jefferson memorials, along with the National Mall, and the Reflecting Pool. In the springtime, it is adorned with cherry blossoms. The Washington Monument has a fascinating history. Construction started in 1848, then stopped between 1854&1877 due to not only a lack of donations, but the Civil War. Construction resumed in 1880, with the majestic monument completed in 1885. The original site is now the Jefferson Pier, but the ground was too unstable.... because DC IS a swamp, geologically speaking. The Washington Monument has been in a near-constant state of renovation. For all its engineering marvels, it's had its fair share of problems, most notably, the 2011 Virginia quake- http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/236799-washington-monument-could-be-closed-until-2014-for-earthquake-repairs Who would've thought, on the East Coast, that it would be a quake that would bring the Washington Monument down rather than Washington politics? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-caused-dc-earthquake-2011-180959019/ The Monument will reopen sometime next spring. For all its problems, the Washington Monument is an icon. Perfect for photos, relaxing, you name it. It's a striking sight, setting it apart from other monuments&memorials. A must-see in DC. read more

I'm not a huge fan, but it is one of the more popular monuments in Washington. Take a tour and check out the view. I think the view on the way down is the most interesting... Situated right in the middle of the mall, the Washington Monument has an interesting history and so does the President after which the monument was erected. read more

Washington Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I didn't even know you could go up this thing 'til reading the Yelp reviews, but I wouldn't recommend it if you've got a fear of heights. This thing is tall, much taller than I expected it to be. Walking up right next to it is visually impressive, for serious. read more

Washington Monument - Washington Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Washington Monument is the world's tallest stone structure and tallest obelisk. At 555 feet tall, you can see over 30 miles from the top. The 50 flags surrounding the base symbolizes the 50 states. There is a difference in the shading of the marble which signifies where construction was halted for 20 years. When the monument was under construction in 1854, the Washington National Monument Society ran out of money and the project ground to a halt. 25 years later, the U.S. government took over and completed the upper two-thirds of the structure by 1884. The Washington Monument has so much history and is definitely worth the time to explore. Pro-tip: Buy tickets online beforehand and arrive early. read more

Washington Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Get there early to choose the tickets for the tour time you want. The ticket office is at the toilet, a separate building from the monument just on the foot of the elevation. Great 360 view of the city, even on a cloudy day! read more

Washington Monument - South side view from the top at the monument.. It was a rainy day. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of the Nation's preeminent tourist attractions on the National Mall... what can be said that hasn't already been said? I have been here more times than I can recall, and I have seen this lovely obelisk tribute on the skyline while driving around the DC metro area just about every day of my existence here in DC... Do I tire of it? No. What a landmark. To me, it is the landmark of DC that you can see in the "sky" from more locations than allow seeing other landmarks. The best time to see the Washington Monument is at night, at least IMO. Not only are the crowds smaller, but... you don't have to see the sad state of the green and not-so-green grass of the Mall. It is a site to behold at night, appearing even larger than during the day as it glows with the searchlight-magnitude lights shining brightly to light it up. If you'd like to go inside, maybe it's nicer during the day when you are up top, but, that's up to you. What I find more important is walking around it, feeling the weight of its presence and putting its existence into perspective with yours when on the ground. Night hawks will appreciate what I mean. Feel free to do that "thing" and lay on the ground near the monument, stick your feet/legs parallel to the surface and look up. Neat feeling. It really enhances the up close and personal experience for you to feel like you are where you are. It's a beautiful backdrop around the Cherry Blossom Festival festivities, the spring time kite flying and the excitement of summer bounty, but it's also a statement in fall and winter against a clear blue sky, a sunset, a sunrise or a covering of snow on the ground a few hundred feet below it. The flags around, blowing in the wind (especially at night, because that's when I like it best) add a nice touch as you tour around the base and come full circle with your feelings about this tribute to the nation's first president. No matter how many times I've seen or visited it, I still appreciate this lovely classic DC landmark/ monument. read more

The monument can be seen from just about anywhere at the National Mall. It makes for great photo ops, especially if you're standing at the Lincoln Memorial overlooking the reflection pool. Definitely a must see if you're visiting Washington DC for the first time. Don't forget to see all the landmarks around the area as well. Beautiful area and nice walking paths! read more

Washington Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Sometimes i think, how come washington only gets this pointy thing. Whereas lincoln, jefferson, roosevelt gets their own statue and their own building. As "boring" as it may seem, it's pretty cool.. this thing is massive and pretty much you will see the Washington Monument wherever you stand. It's the center of them all. read more

Got a chance to see this historic landmark of Washington DC... From my tour bus and got a chance to walk by it from a far away distance... When, I walked down the many steps from the Lincoln Memorial... read more

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We have to wait 6 hours for next train in the amtrak station so we decide walk and explore dc , the capitol , the supreme court, the Washington monument, the white house Was fun read more

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The giant pencil like figure was, according to history, built to honor George Washington, the United States' first president. It can pretty much be spotted instantly going into the city and I guess it's quite a sight to see if you've never been to DC. I've taken it for granted since I've lived here my entire life. But if you've never seen it I would recommend trying to see it from various points of view from the city. That way you can actually appreciate it's artistic worth to our Nation's Capital. It's a cool pencil. read more

Washington Monument - Perfect place to chill on a perfect day - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

"First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform dignified, and commanding; his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting.... The purity of his private charter gave effulgence to his public virtues...." This was part of the eulogy given to George Washington upon his death. General and later President George Washington steered this nation through some very dark and tumultuous times... through the revolutionary war, and the beginning of our republic. George Washington sacrificed much for our nation. He was a private man, who wanted nothing more than to live in peace on his plantation in Mount Vernon, yet when called to action he would fight and bleed for us. He could have easily crowned himself King. He could have easily usurped control due to his military power. But he was humble and always avoided or relinquished power at the first opportunity because he believed in the ideals our nation fought for. Walking around DC and going thru the sites, you could always look at the sky and see the Washington Monument...almost as if he were watching over the capital. It is truly impressive...towering over the city. One can go up to the top of the Monument and see an impressive view of the city. I believe that only the statute of freedom on top of the Capitol is the only point higher in Washington (by law). Sadly because the earthquake a few years ago damaged it... it is still undergoing repairs and no one will be able to go to the top until sometimes next year (2019). I certainly would have loved to view the city from that high. He would be proud of our nation and its accomplishments but at the same time very worried. When he finally ended his public and political career, he said "However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion." He would be alarmed by the acrimony and hate being ignited and fueled by the parties and the heads of the parties, splitting our country into factions. I wish our current leaders would look to him and emulate his character and his virtues. read more

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This enormous obelisk played such a key role in "The Lost Symbol". The Washington Monument is a landmark that is pretty easy to see from all over the city. Going to the top seems to be about the only thing we missed out on. Online tickets sell out well in advance and the first come first serve daily tickets go quickly as well. Fine dining takes priority for me over sightseeing, so we never went up for what must be stunning 360 views of town. I also would have never known to look for the gold capstone atop the monument. Thanks Dan Brown. read more

Washington Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A must see, for sure. Given the constant crowds streaming in, they are very efficient at getting you up on time. The views are spectacular. On the ground, so much of the layout of the monuments feels so haphazard, so it's great to see the perfect design that went into them from above. The complete 360 views is great because there is plenty to see, and enough windows that people aren't crowding around one at any given time. Upon leaving, try to position yourself near the doors on either side because the elevator slows during the descent to show off some of the commemorative stones along the ride. One note of caution: after the monument finally reopened in May, we had to reserve our tickets online a good three months in advance to get a weekend slot. I'm sure that wait will come down over time, but be on the lookout. read more

My partner and I were extremely taken care of here by the park service. When we got to the top of the monument, Emanuel Gogo, a park ranger, filled our experience with very interesting information, fun facts, and stories. He answered all our questions and answered some we hadn't even though to ask! The views were amazing and learning about its construction was fascinating. I would recommend this trip to everyone of all ages. read more

A must see when you come visit DC. Glad it was finally reopened. The tallest stone structure in the world gives a breathtaking 360 view of the District. Although the tour is free, you need to secure a ticket to go in. Tickets are released for the day by 8:30 in the morning. Tickets run fast so be sure to be early to secure a spot. Check out the National Parks Services website starting October 10th for ticket reservations. read more

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BEAUTIFUL at night. Love the reflection of the monument at night on the water. Completely reminds me of the Forrest Gump scene where Jenny runs to meet Forrest. :) Great place to take pictures! Gets kind of busy and not quit sure of a good time at night during the week to visit as its a landmark everyone tries to see. But definitely come see it at night. read more

Washington Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Features: -The Washington Monument is a historical landmark that is located in the National Mall in DC. It is built to commemorate our first president George Washington. It was beautifully made of marble, granite and bluestone gneiss that sits 555 feet tall. -I came here during the summer and honestly speaking, this tall column hosts a lot of history to it and is one of the nation's most recognizable and vital structures that I admire. Too bad we no longer can take a ride up to the top, I am sure it would be a nice panoramic view up there. -I came here during the night and during the day, and both times were amazing and more than words can describe. Surrounding this are other areas you can walk to visit such as the WW II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, WW I Memorial, The White House, and a little further is the JFK and MLK statues (All still walking distance). Improvement: -None Tips: -There are a lot of tourists during the day so come early for good pictures or come super late. -There are a lot of museums around as well, so make sure you check them out! -Food stands and drinks all throughout the National Mall in case you get hungry! read more

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I enjoyed visiting the washington monument. It was very hot that day but stayed under its shade and we had so much fun. read more

Washington Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Glad we went after the peak tourist time, but there are still tons of tourist around. We got there latter than I wanted, around 10am and if you want to go to the top of the Washington Monument you need Tickets. It's FREE though you have to go to the building near the street around the back to get them. It's timed so at 10am the earliest tour we could get was 12:30pm. So we show up at 12:30pm and people are waiting around a bench. No idea where the line is, but it's the Front of the bench. Don't sit behind otherwise you'll just have to wait longer. Sit on the front of the bench or start a line next to the last person on the bench. They only let like 10 people at a time up so be patient. Gotta go through security, then up the elevator. Spend as much time up the elevator cuz then you have to walk down a flight of stairs to the exhibit. After exhibit then you take the elevator down. It goes slow in a few places so you can see the commemorative stones inside the monument. I think there's a ranger walk down the 186 stairs but it's like a 10:30am tour or something like that. FREE, worth checking out. hrs: 9am-4:45pm daily GET Their Early! read more

This is one of the best monuments in DC. I have lived in DC for many years now and had never been up to the top. But that changed recently and boy was I missing something! What stunning views of DC from the observation decks at the top of the monument! Lucky me that we had clear skies and the visibility was several miles! Going up the statute of liberty (when it was allowed) is nothing compared to this! read more

Make sure to ride the scooters or bikes around the block. Go check it out at night instead of during the day. read more

This seemed nice. Iffy on the history side though. If you're gonna come here, maybe look into who built it.

World's tallest stone structure and tallest structure in DC. When you think of DC, you think of this! (well, this and the Capitol) Coming here at night is the best; all the monuments look their most beautiful at night. I love laying down and looking up at the monument to soak in its awesomeness and monumentalism (hah). read more

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Yay, the Washington Monument, a national symbol of America... Some pro's: -Definitely a touristy place and somewhere you should visit if you're in the DC area. If you're in DC, you should definitely go on a historical monument field trip. -You can get some good pictures here! My suggestion is to be artsy fartsy and photograph upwards so you capture the entire monument. -Good place to chill for a few minutes-hours. Tons of grassy area and lots of people chatting, playing ball, flying kites/frisbees, etc. Some con's: -It's so long it's hard to photograph without either cutting off part of the monument or having everyone in the picture be miniscule -Due to the earthquake, there was a noticeable crack on one side! -The reflecting pool adjacent from the monument was dried up for renovations when I went, so it was not as epic as it could have been. :( read more

Washington Monument - Creative photo op with entire Washington Monument pictured. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Definitely worth a visit if you are in Washington. The views from atop the tower are amazing. You can clearly see the White House, Capitol Building, National Mall and Lincoln Memorial. Park Ranger John Kirkpatrick, who was outside organizing the tour groups on the day of our visit, was a riot! He kept the crowd in order, helped pass the time and even posed for pictures with the visitors. He made the trip here memorable - as many of the others around us would agree. On your descent from the top, the elevator slows on two different instances, the windows "unfog" to give you internal view of the monument. Here you will see commemorative stones from the various states. The viewing windows are fairly small, so expect to wait, but hang in there - the view is worth it. For those photographers out there, you can take some great pictures of the Vietnam War Memorial (the wall) with the Washington Monument in the background of the shot. Enjoy your stay in DC - and make sure you make this one of your stops! read more

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This is something every American recognizes, it's an iconic symbol of Washington, DC and a must stop if you're near the mall. We didn't have time for a tour, but I was told to get there VERY early (close to 8am) if you want to be able to get a ticket for a tour. I was shocked to discover upon going to see it that you can literally walk up and touch it, hug it, do... whatever you want. I grabbed a cool picture right up the side of it. From here on a clear day you can also get a long distance picture of the capitol building in one direction and the Lincoln Memorial in the other. It's inside a ring of American flags, on a huge grassy space, and I was told that in the Spring/Summer people sit out on picnic blankets and play and hang out around it. It is an unreal thing to be next to. read more

Washington Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Weekday=traffic, no parking, good luck. Wknd=can actually see the road, might even catch 3 hr parking right up front. Bring=water, water, water!!! read more

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I had not visited Washington DC in over 25 years. We were disappointed we could not easily access the Washington monument as well as many other museums. Lesson learned you have to make reservations for everything these days. We were shocked by the condition of the public men's restroom. You would think with all our tax dollars and tourism revenue the city would provide functional restrooms to accommodate the masses. Port a potties would be a step us from what we encountered. read more

Late Review: I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the top of the Washington Monument when I moved to DC in 2009. It is an amazing view and it really gives you an appreciation for our nation's capital. Between the earthquake back in 2011 and all of the repair work, there have not been that many from the public that have had the privilege of going to the top of the monument. read more

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I really wanted to go up to the top of the monument to see the views of the city. However, I didn't plan my trip far enough ahead of time, and neither my friend nor I could get ourselves out of bed in time to cue up at 7am to get free, timed tickets. If I was staying at one of the swanky local hotels, I would have sent a concierge person to stand in line for me for a small fee. That would be totally worth it. The monument is a sight to behold and dominates the skyline, along with the Capitol building. It looks great up close as well as far away, and it makes for awesome pictures. I was too shy to do the whole lying in the grass with the monument protruding from my body in interesting places pose. Oh well. Hahaha. And I do see how, at night especially, the monument looks like some sort of masked and hooded (kkk member or otherwise) figure staring out over the city in an angry way. Kind of disturbing. read more

You'll not find a better view of DC anywhere! If you've not been, go! When you have friends or family come in from out of town to see DC. Take them here, follow the advice of Matt S and you won't miss. Tell them to bring their camera You will be anointed the DC tour guide extradionaire forever for this singular experience. read more

Well you can't go to DC without seeing the Washington monument. It was an awesome sight to behold and is an amazing marker for the national mall area as you are traveling around DC. If you can see the monument, you know where you're at! I was able to see the monument from Arlington Cemetery as well. Beautiful view of it from the Lincoln memorial, this was actually my favorite view. Up close it is awesome to see but there isn't much else to do around there but snap a picture and head off to see something else. Apparently the monument has been closed for some time now and will remain closed for another year or so. That being said it was a little less interesting. There also wasn't really anything to read about around it. Would be nice if it had some history somewhere close by for those who weren't on a guided tour. read more

Another place you can't really add much to what has already been said. The scaffoling is 3/4 down and soon to be completely down. I'm looking forward to taking a tour to the top next time I'm in town. The view from the POV at the W Hotel was awesome. Driving into the city from the airport it's a wonderful, welcoming site, and leaving town makes you want to stay for more. A true landmark, memorial, and history lesson all in one. read more