Washington Monument

Address

2 15th St NW, Washington DC

GPS

38.9007003, -77.0336365

Address

2 15th St NW, Washington DC

GPS

38.9007003, -77.0336365

How to get there

The easiest way to get to the monument is by taking the Metro. The two closest Metro stops are Federal Triangle and Smithsonian, both on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines. By bus, take DC Circulator’s National Mall route or ride Metrobus routes 32, 34, or 36.

The Washington Monument is an obelisk constructed to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to the east of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial.

Quick facts

  • Name: Washington Monument
  • Location: Washington, DC, USA
  • Built 1885
  • Type of attraction: Architectural/Monument
  • Ticket price: Free

The monument is made of marble, granite and bluestone gneiss and is both the world’s highest predominantly stone structure and the world’s highest obelisk.

When it was inaugurated in 1885, it was the world’s tallest structure, until 1889, with construction of Eiffel Tower.

Washington Monument Reserved Admission with DC Landmarks and Memorials Tour

The monument was planned to be built in 1848, but it had to be put on hold for 23 years, from 1854 to 1877 because of a lack of funds, an effort to wrest control of the Washington National Monument Society from another organization, and the American Civil War.It was not until after the stone structure was completed in 1884 that work on the interior ironwork, the knoll, and installation of memorial stones was completed.It is possible to see a noticeable variance in marble shading, visible approximately 150 feet (46 m) or 27% of the way up the shaft, where construction was suspended and then restarted using marble from a different source.

The original design was completed by Robert Mills (1781–1855), who was from South Carolina, but he did not include his proposed colonnade because he did not have enough funding, proceeding only with a bare obelisk.

The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; the first stone was laid atop the unfinished stump on August 7, 1880; the capstone was set on December 6, 1884; the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885; and the completed monument was officially opened on October 9, 1888.

Interesting facts about Washington Monument

Washington Monument & DC Highlights Tour

Here are some interesting facts about this amazing landmark:

  • The Monument is built as a free-standing construction, which means there is no cement holding the blocks together.
  • There are 896 steps to the top of the Washington Monument.
  • The color of the marble changes at the 152 foot mark. Construction was stopped due to a lack of budget and when it started again they used marble from a different quarry.

Read more: Interesting facts about Washington Monument

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