A needle-like alabaster obelisk built as a tribute to America’s Founding Father and first President, the Washington Monument, is a symbol of the United States and a recognisable icon on the DC skyline. Lying at the west of the National Mall, from the top of the tower you can admire great views of the White House, the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, and the rest of the city.
(Note that the Washington Monument is currently closed until 2014 while repairs are carried out after the structure was damaged in the 2011 Virginia earthquake. This means visitors are unable to enter the monument until repairs are complete.)
At around 169 metres high, it is the tallest building in DC – and the tallest free-standing stone structure anywhere in the world. The monument can be seen from all across the National Mall and beyond. Yet to fully appreciate its vast scale, you have to see it up close. In the evening, the monument is illuminated and offers a perfect photo opportunity when viewed behind the Reflecting Pool from the west.
Construction first commenced on the monument all the way back in 1848, but it wasn’t until 1884 that it was finally completed. Work was brought to a halt in 1854 and didn’t resume until 1876 because of the interceding American Civil War – you can even see the slight difference in colour of the marble between the base and the apex.
It is free to enter the monument when it is open, but you’ll have to either book online or get a ticket from the Washington Monument Lodge, open from 8:30 a.m. There is a limit of six tickets per person, and they often run out quickly, with visitors arriving as early as 7 a.m.
Throughout the year, free concerts, shows and cinema screenings are hosted at the national Sylvan Theatre, the amphitheatre located at the base of the monument. For more information, ask at the visitor centre.
