Washington Monument

Address:Washington, District of Columbia
Tel: (202) 426-6851

You've seen coins and bills with his picture, perhaps visited the northwestern state or one of the numerous cities or institutions around the country named after him. Yet with all these testaments to the reverence his nation holds for him, it is an obelisk designed by Baltimore architect Robert Mills that is graced with the title: the Washington Monument.

The idea for the monument began in Washington's lifetime but was originally planned as an equestrian statue outside the capitol building. This plan was scrapped in favor of a much more grandiose vision immediately after Washington's death in 1799. Its cornerstone would not be laid until 1848 and it would be 1884 before the project was complete, due to financial and political considerations.

A unique feature of the Monument is its 193 memorial stones in the interior. The stones were donated by states, cities and patriotic societies as well as by foreign countries around the world. All stones comply with the Washington National Monument's Society's request that the stones be durable, and a product of that state or country's soil. They are also of uniform size being two feet high, four feet long, and 18 inches thick.

The monument is open to visitors who want to take the elevator ride up to the 500 foot landing for magnificent views of the city, from 9:00-4:45 daily. On weekends, tour guides walk groups down the original stairs, describing the construction of America's favorite monument. Tickets are necessary for anyone aged two and older and may be obtained for free at the 15th Street kiosk from 8:30 am until all of the day's tickets are distributed. If you're concerned about being stuck without a ticket you can order tickets in advance by calling the Reservation System at 1-800-967-2283 between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm. Note that while the tickets themselves are free, use of the advance service costs about $1.50 service charge of about $.50 for shipping and handling.

The Washington Monument is located in Washington, D.C. at 900 Ohio Drive. Public transportation to the Washington Monument is available via the Metro to the Smithsonian stop. Enjoy your trip to Washington, D.C.—and don't miss this opportunity to stop by the capital's largest structure and pay homage to one of the nation's greatest heroes!