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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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
7 months ago
4 years ago
If you want all of the good views this is where you come to. As with everything else in DC that's worthwhile seeing you have to secure a couple of tickets to go in here. A group of six is the maximum that the elevator can take to the top. The tours run every half an hour so if you get there early check the marble seating areas and you'll see the times you're supposed to be slotted into. The rangers will come by and give you a rundown of what you're supposed to be seeing and hearing. It's a quick tour but the views are worth it. You will have to do a little bit of walking on the way out. read more
2 years ago
The Washington Monument is as beautiful and grandiose in person as you would expect it to be. Disappointing that even in off peak season it's challenging to get tickets either online or in person to go to the top of it. Every time I went online I must have missed the ticket release time because everything was already taken. Nonetheless I'm glad we had the opportunity to see it in person since it's such an iconic monument. read more
This is the monument that you will see no matter where you are in Washington D.C. The monument stands at 555 feet tall and was built to commemorate George Washington, officially opened in 1888, and was actually the world's tallest predominantly stone structure when it was completed. To be honest, in my opinion the monument actually looks better further away than closer because you can see the entire thing. It's also surrounded by American flags which adds to its coolness. It's nice up close but you can't take any pictures with the entire thing in frame when you're right next to it. You can also pay to go up to the top (I think it's $1) but this is still a monumental (get it?) and historical piece of history to take some pictures for free. read more
At the center of the National Mall (and probably the center of the entire city or something too) stands the Washington Monument! A white, marble (I think?) pillar that drives me a little bananas given the change in materials about 1/3rd of the way up so that the shade/texture of white is a bit off going up the rest of the pillar. This monument is obviously in honor of our nation's first president, George Washington, and it's very unique and cool in that it's one of the easiest things to spot within the DC skyline basically anywhere throughout the city. There's a whole paved circular area all around it, so there's plenty of space to mill about and look upon this monument. It's so interesting how different it can look far away vs. up close and I love that there are so many pathways that stem away from this central location. In this day and age, now that we have electric scooters around the city, I'd highly recommend scootering around the National Mall. It's so much larger and longer than you might realize, so scootering covers these expansive grounds in a quicker way, while also giving you plenty of time to appreciate the monuments, museums, architecture, all of it as you're scootering up to each location and away from them as well. Given that so much of the National Mall is paved, it's very scooter-friendly and I really enjoyed scootering up to, around, and then away from the Washington Monument at night. It's truly a sight to behold! read more
Visiting the Washington Monument was one of our highlights on our trip to D.C.! We came over Memorial Day weekend and we extremely lucky to snag two tickets for the tour (they are released on recreation.gov 30 days prior). The tour was amazing! The elevator up to the observation area was smooth and quick and it was amazing to see D.C. from the tallest structure in the city. You really get a feel for the layout in D.C. as you can see The Jefferson Memorial to the South, The Lincoln Memorial to the West, The Capitol Building to the East, and The White House to the North. We went on a cloudy day and the views were still spectacular. It was also amazing to see how the monument was constructed and getting to see the insides of the monument was a thrill. On the way back down from the observation area the elevator will randomly stop halfway down to show you many of the memorial stones that are from various states, societies, and other countries as they line the inside of the elevator shaft. That was also very interesting and it would be worth it to tour the monument again to see some more of those. The Washington Monument is one of the most interesting national monuments and I would highly suggest trying to tour the monument if you can (tickets are grabbed up fast!). If you can't get a tour, then definitely still come here and marvel at the tallest stone structure and tallest obelisk in the world and a fitting tribute to our first president and founding father. read more
2 years ago
Amazing view from the top of the monument! It's not that different from local like us to get the tickets. It requires airport security check (belt out!)same as capital hill and liberty of congress. We took off the belt three times yesterday we had the photos of the heart of 以后可以跟的北京中轴线还有的钥匙广场做比较啦！强烈推荐大晴天去，如果下雨的话窗口估计看不清楚什么 read more
Beautiful monument to visit, explore and experience especially on a beautiful day in DC. Once you reach the top of monument the views are amazing to see and feel the land looks so beautiful and vast. You see the Lincoln Memorial from a distance. read more
You can't miss it! Look at it, admire it, learn about it! I've never been inside it which I can safely say about all obelisks. Vice Versa? Who knows. It's easy to admire and honestly incomprehensible how they built it back in the day. Lincoln has a great view of the monument from his big chair. USA USA USA! read more
5 years ago
One of the must-see places when visiting Washington, DC! Make sure you book the tickets the day before to get the tour of the monument and ride to the top of the monument. You book the tickets online the day before at 10 am. They sell out quickly (within a few minutes). The tickets cost $1 each. The Washington Monument was built to honor President Washington. It's about 500 ft to the top level, and about 1/2 as tall as the Eiffel Tower. It's the tallest free standing structure. There are two colors for the marble because it was originally built in the mid-1800s; however, they had ran out of funds to finish the project. In the late 1800s, after raising additional funds, they were able to finish the project but had to use a different quarry, hence the separation in color for the two marbles. In 1885, the Washington Monument was hit by lightning, which cracked the stone. The lightning rod was bent and burned as a result. It was later replaced in 2012, so that the lightning rods is now embedded in the creases of the marble. Fun Fact #1: No one actually died building the Washington Monument! Fun Fact #2: There is a falcon that lives at the top of the monument, so some of the windows may be dirty since the falcon tends to eat its prey up there. Overall: Very informational. You could see all the views of the national mall area (major DC buildings). Would definitely visit this place again. read more
3 years ago
This is a must see.. as a long time DMV native, I finally made time to go check out this historic landmark. I was surprised at how easy the process was to get a ticket. I got ours online. The process to enter the monument was easier than TSA, very similar but nonetheless easier. Parking near the site was a little difficult to navigate as we all know DC has 6 parking signs for one parking space. Now, let's talk about these views!! Ohhh to the M to the Geeeeezus!!DC is a beauty. My pictures don't do it justice. This spot is romantic so if you are romantical (spelled wrong on purpose), please take your mate here and thank me later. read more
The Washington Monument is uber cool. You can't argue it. No one can, because it's just so cool, it's so obvious and denying it is only trying to deny the inner truth wanting to jump out of you- that the monument is cool!! There are few things quite like the drive into DC, seeing old Washington soaring into the clouds. Day or night, it's just so unbelievably stunning and you can't help but feel so excited and like you're approaching something really special. And you are- the nations capital, where there is an insane amount of history that has been made and is always being made. If you have the chance to visit DC, do it! And take a walk around this stark tower (peep my marvel fans), because it really gives you an other world feeling. Love this monument, and seeing it will never get old! read more
5 years ago
Located in an open field surrounded by American flags....the monument is a must see when in Washington DC. It honors our first president of the United States....George Washington. Once the tallest building in the world, the monument that stands at over 550 feet can be seen from the Capital building and as far away as Virginia. The Washington Monument has been a focal point in our nation's capital for over 150 years. Shaped like an obelisk, it's height is reminiscent to George Washington's greatness. As many would describe "The monument, like the man, stands in no one's shadow" . Very fitting to say the least. I must say, the monument was one of the things to do on my DC trip bucket list. Standing next to it was quite mesmerizing and if you look up at the sky, looks like the top of the monument moves with the clouds. Definitely breathtaking and photo worthy! read more
First time inside the monument. Even though I am a born and raised Washingtonian. Yes I admitted it. You would be surprised when you're born and raised in that area. You don't tend to take advantage of what most tourists would jump on quick. Now I've been outside of the DC monument many times. So having the opportunity to see the views from the top was extraordinary. I love my city! Definitely can appreciate the amazing views. We made reservations online. Which is a challenge. I've tried on numerous occasions but could never find tickets. There is a small booking fee. It was only a couple of dollars. Finally I was able to find tickets. So you can imagine how excited I was when it finally went through. We had a scheduled viewing time. My family loved it as well. It was three in our group. The elevator ride went pretty quickly. We went up with another group of people. Upon reaching the top it's photo time. Definitely worth seeing. Just keep in mind there is no nearby parking. We parked at a garage which was about a half a mile away. The metro line was nearby. I saw it on our journey from the parking garage. Please make this a must see list if visiting the Washington DC area. read more
During my visit the monument was closed but you are still able to see it and walk around the base of the area. It is situated in an open field area to give great views from all angles with beautiful American flags circling the base. It really is amazing to see it up close and then when you are in other parts of the city of even across the river it is still so big and completely noticeable. I image the views from the top are breathtaking. Will be back again and be sure to take the tour up. read more
1 year ago
This is definitely one of the most iconic monuments of our nation. I've been here several times and this structure still withstand the test of time. Came here on our recent tour of Washington DC, and had to stop by the national mall to get a picture of this beautiful structure. I actually learned a little bit more about the history this time, if you notice the monument is of two different colors. They actually ran out of the lime stone one building it the first time, and had to wait several more years before finishing the structure. Hence the two different color tone. Very cool history read more
This is truly a majestic sight! I didn't do the tour because I'm not a fan of them but the views from this iconic American tourist site are incredible. In late October, it was a beautiful cloudy and sunny day when we walked the long path from the nearby Lincoln Memorial to this Monument. Close by are the White House and Congress as well as dozens of museums. This location is great for photos and to sit and meditate. There are nearby restrooms and small huts that sell drinks and snacks. Parking is tricky so recommend walking from your hotel or getting dropped off. We went on a Friday around 9 am and there were very few people so try to go on a weekday in the am or right before sunset! read more
4 years ago
How could you not come see the Washington monument?!? It's a short walk from the Lincoln Memorial and you are just in awe of how tall it is. So beautiful at night. I have also gone during the days years ago and there was a tour to go to the top. I Assume they still have it. read more
A must visit in D.C.! I came for the first time this year and luckily caught the end of cherry blossom season. There were still a few trees around the Washington Monument that were blooming. It's a huge monument with flags all around it and also located in a large field so it's quite the walk (definitely wear comfy shoes!). There were also so many people at the base once you get closer, as expected. read more
Must-visit while in DC! The Washington Monument has a nice view of the Mall and the Lincoln Memorial. Plenty of open green space for relaxing or having a picnic on a nice day, although not a lot of shade around. Be prepared for lots of walking. read more
2 years ago
Pro - Amazing views. As always, NPS employees were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Con - process to get tickets. You must have a ticket. You can try online 30 days in advance. It's a non refundable $1 for each ticket. You can also get them the day before at 10am (online). Both options were to no avail. Lots of alarms and work with disappointment and added stress to the trip. We went the morning of at 8:45. We were around 75th in line and they had plenty of time options throughout the day available. Also, if you are claustrophobic you may not like the elevator ride and space at the top. read more
3 years ago
"In America: Remember", an outdoor installation, is found on one side of the Washington Monument. It ends soon. There are over 700,000 small white flags planted on the grounds, representing all the deaths in the US (to date) from the current pandemic of COVID-19. It's a very touching display. I went at night; the flags actually sparkle a bit as they wave in the wind. It's free. Very worth your time. read more
We were able to get tickets to go up in the monument the day before. They were available at 10 est and there is a $1 charge. You do go through security so make sure you do not bring anything that can't get through. There are only a few things in the base of the tower but the view from up top was really cool. You can see many of the DC landmarks and Virginia and Maryland. You also get to see some of the blocks donated on the elevator ride. Stairs are closed to visitors. Would recommend if you are in DC. read more
This is such an iconic in for monument that it doesn't make sense to not visited while you're in Washington DC. Not only going over and looking at it while on the National mall, but also going up to the top if possible. We were able to do both as we were in town when I was a little less busy than normal. The last time I seen this was about 10 years ago, and we've never been up inside of it. Going up to the top was fantastic, even though it was a bit on the Claudia side. You have to register online days before you get there, so make sure to be checking in early, and right when it opens up as the tickets go quickly. It really was a marvel of engineering and pretty amazing to see the process that got it built. One thing that we learned while on our adventure up and down, was the different states had sent in plaques that were put on the inside of the building. As you're going down the elevators, there are times when you can see different plaques from different states and organizations. It's pretty good stuff. Like everything in Washington DC, this is worth your time and something that you want to forget. Make sure to see it both day and night as it looks a lot different when it's lit up! read more
This monument is always a treat to see and walk around the park and if lucky enough to hike up the monument the views are a huge treat! Park is so clean and manicured and the flags flying around the monument is impressive! read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
Love the stick and the fact that I can see it from almost anywhere in dc. Never been inside the stick but will update soon. read more
2 years ago
the washington monument is breathtaking, especially at night! seeing the reflection in the water creates such a peaceful and stunning view. its an iconic landmark with so much history, and standing near it is surreal. whether you visit in the day or night, its definitely a must see in d.c! read more
2 years ago
It was super cool to experience this historical monument. There is lots of interesting American history as well as quirks about the monument that the guides can teach you about. read more
This commemoration is awe inspiring. I've seen a few monuments for George Washington, but none of them can compare to this. It's truly jaw dropping and instantly recognizable from any point within the National Mall. It shines during the day, glows at night, and is absolutely stunning. And there I was, freezing to death in the middle of night staring at this thing. But, I just couldn't stop staring. And I had to get closer and closer. The simplicity of it all is what really makes this monument that much more beautiful in my eyes. Standing at 555 feet tall, it is considered the tallest monument in the world. The structure is comprised mainly of stone and took 40 years to complete (there was a 23 year break in the building process because there were no funds). The base is surrounded by American flags and there are 4 main walking paths that will lead you there. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to go inside. You can reserve tickets for a tour up to 90 days in advance, and there's an elevator that will take you up to the top. Even if you don't get a chance to do a tour, there's an outdoor section that features placards showcasing the history of the monument. And of course, just viewing it up close is enough to satisfy your eyes. What a beautiful way to commemorate George Washington! 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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