Washington Monument
A 169-meter marble obelisk at the heart of the National Mall. Ride the elevator to the observation level at 152 meters for views of the Capitol, the White House and the Lincoln Memorial.
Construction began in 1848 and was completed in 1884. Work was halted by the Civil War, and the shaft shows a visible color difference between the upper and lower stone. The elevator takes about 70 seconds to reach the observation level. Small windows on four sides face the Capitol, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. Admission is free, but timed tickets must be reserved in advance on Recreation.gov, with a booking fee of about $1. A small number of same-day tickets are also issued at the Monument lodge from 8:45 a.m. Security is strict, and large bags are not allowed.
Opening hours
09:00–17:00 (may extend in summer; check official website)
Nearby sights
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- National World War II Memorial
- National Museum of American History
- Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms
- Freer Gallery of Art
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial
- The White House