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Washington Monument

by Mary Jo Manzanares on September 8th, 2006

If you’ve seen a photo of Washington DC, you’ve seen the Washington Monument standing proudly above the city. 

The monument is the oldest in Washington, and was built as a tribute to our first President, in recognition of his contributions to liberty and democracy.  It stands just over 555 feet high, is shaped like an Egyptian obelisk, and is made of marble, granite and sandstone.  It is the tallest structure in D.C., and in clear weather can been seen from about 40 miles away. 

The interior of the monument contains 193 memorial stones.  In 1848, the Washington National Monument Society invited states, cities, and patriotic societies to contribute memorial stones.  The stones needed to be durable, a product of the state’s soil, meet specific dimension requirements, and pay tribute to the character and achievements of George Washington; a number of stones have also been donated by other countries.  Although damaged over the years, the stones are currently undergoing restoration, and you can see many of them online at the National Park Service website.

The monument is open to the public daily (except Christmas and July 4th), from 9 am-4:45 pm.  Admission is free, although it does require a timed ticket.  These free, same-day tickets are available at the ticket booth located at the base of the monument on 15th Street.  They are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8:30 am.  You can pick up six tickets per person.  In peak tourist times, the line up for tickets starts very, very early, so plan accordingly. 

Advanced tickets are available for a token service charge.

There is visitor screening, and the usual prohibitions apply.  There is no food or drink allowed, except for water in a clear, plastic bottle.

By day, the monument may seem part of the nitty gritty Washington landscape.  At night, however, it is illuminated, and, when viewed from afar, it creates a wonderful romantic glow about the city. 

Photo credit:  Jon Rochetti (above), c. 2006; Freddy Montilla (at right).

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POSTED IN: Things to See & Do