Washington Monument

The Washington Monument stands near the centre of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between the US Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial and east of the Reflecting Pool. It honours George Washington, commander of the Continental Army and the first president of the United States, and is managed by the National Park Service.

Construction began in 1848 on a design by Robert Mills. Work stopped in 1854 for lack of money and stayed on hold through the Civil War. When building resumed in 1879, the stone came from a different quarry, which is why a change in marble colour is visible about a third of the way up. The capstone was set in 1884 and the monument opened to the public in 1888.

The obelisk is about 169 metres tall, built of marble, granite and bluestone gneiss. It was the tallest structure in the world from 1884 until the Eiffel Tower was finished in 1889, and it remains the tallest stone structure of its kind. Inside, more than 190 memorial stones donated by states, cities and organisations line the walls of the stairwell.

An elevator takes visitors to the observation level at about 152 metres, where small windows face all four directions with views of the Capitol, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington. A small exhibit below the windows covers the monument's history.

Entry is free but needs a timed ticket, available online in advance for a small fee or on the day from the Washington Monument Lodge. The monument closes on some holidays and occasionally for maintenance, so check the NPS page before going.