Washington Monument
About Washington Monument
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What people say
Elizabeth Rickert
Available for hire
"This 555-foot tall marble obelisk is located on the National Mall. Timed tickets are required to ride the elevator to the observation deck. These tickets can be reserved in advance on the National Park website here: https://www.nps.gov/wamo/planyourvisit/fees.htm for a fee of $1. Free same-day tickets can be acquired at the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street. Tickets are limited so I do recommend getting advanced tickets.
I suggest talking to the rangers while there! They're experts in the monument and can provide some great information!
A few things to look out for:
- The monument was constructed in two phases resulting in a change in quarrys. As you look at the monument you might notice that the stone color changes slightly part of the way up.
- There are ceremonial stones throughout the monument's interior. As you ride the elevator up you might get a glimpse of them. These have been donated by states, organizations, and various societies. "
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Miki Huntington
Available for hire
"The Washington Monument was the first monument built on the Capitol Mall.
You might notice there are two different colors of marble, and that's because it was constructed in two phases after laying the cornerstone in 1848.
The color line shows where construction halted in 1856, when private donations to fund the Monument dried up.
Groups in charge of raising money argued over how the monument should represent George Washington and the nation. Building resumed only when Congress authorized public funds to complete the work in 1876. The color line on the Washington Monument is a visible reminder that even the most popular monuments and memorials on the Mall are often born in controversy.
Source: https://mallhistory.org/explorations/show/washington-monument-colors"
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Lucy Wadhwani
Available for hire
"The tallest free-standing, stone structure in the world!
Once you're through the security zone, expect a quick ride to the top. At the top you'll have as much time as you want to take in the views to the North, East, South, & West. When you're done, take the stairs down (or elevator if required) to one floor below to see the small museum exhibit. Then head back down the elevator, with brief opportunities to see donated stones from states & organizations around the country.
Expect the whole experience to take less than 30 minutes once your group is called, but if they are running behind you'll be waiting outside for a while."
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