Basic Information - Washington Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (2024)

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Basic Information - Washington Monument (U.S. National Park Service)? ›

Built in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, evoking the timelessness of ancient civilizations, the Washington Monument embodies the awe, respect, and gratitude the nation felt for its most essential Founding Father. When completed, the Washington Monument was the tallest building in the world at 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches.

Arriving at the Washington Monument

Please note the tour time on your ticket, and arrive up to 30 minutes before your tour time begins.

At the 1848 ceremony were 20,000 people, and a container that held copies of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and other objects was buried in the cornerstone.

Are national monuments always part of the National Park System? No. National monuments can be managed by a number of federal agencies, and are sometimes jointly managed.

Admission to the Monument

Although it is free and open to the public, guests need to get tickets in order to tour the monument. Tickets can be reserved in advance of you can go to the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street adjacent to the Monument to pick them up. You'll be given a specific time for your tour.

The handouts begin at 8:30 am. On weekends and holidays, all the passes for the day are given out within the first hour. People line up from as soon as 6 am on some days to get the earliest tickets available.

Additionally, suitcases, duffel bags, or backpacks larger than 18” x 16” x 8”, strollers, food (except for a small quantity of sealed food items), or beverages (except water, milk, or baby formula in clear plastic containers) are not permitted within the Washington Monument.

Rather than ascend to 600 feet as Mills had intended in the original plan, Casey was persuaded to make the height of the structure ten times the width of the base, meaning the optimal height for the Washington Monument was 555 feet.

An elevator provides transportation to the top floor, the 500' observation deck at the base of the pyramidion. The observation deck provides views out two windows on the north, south, east, and west sides of the pyramidion. A small museum is located on the 490' level.

Chemicals such as chlorine, liquid bleach, turpentine, paint thinner, flammable liquids, fuels, gasoline, lighter fluid, or similar items. Unidentified powdered substances, liquid soaps and bubbles. from the fulcrum are prohibited).

What is the most visited national park in the United States? ›

Topping the list with an astounding 13,297,647 visitors, Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The park is renowned for its mist-covered mountains, lush forests, and diverse wildlife.

The America the Beautiful Pass (also known as the Interagency Pass) series comprises annual or lifetime passes that grant the holder entrance to more than 2,000 federally protected areas including national parks, national monuments, and other protected areas managed by six federal agencies: the National Park Service, ...

Once finished in 1885, the stones appeared to be the same color. Environmental elements aged the marbles differently, so now we see a distinct difference in stone colors on the Monument. These differences are a visible reminder that building a monument on public space is never without controversy.

Assessments of the building revealed cracks, spalls, and displacements of stones and joints throughout the building. Using centuries-old stone masonry techniques and modern engineering science, the National Park Service and Difficult Access Team from Wiss, Janey, Elstner, Inc.

A worrying number of people were experiencing heart attacks during the climb or injuring themselves in falls during the descent. According to the National Park Service's Mike Litterst, the steps of the Washington Monument were closed for walking up in 1971, and then closed altogether — up and down — in 1976.

The ideal times to explore Washington DC Monuments are during the spring and fall.

Going to the top of the Washington Monument is a great small and free activity to do while visiting DC. One of the best and arguably most unobstructed views you can possibly get of DC!

Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 3 h 28 min to complete. This is a very popular area for running and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

Inside the ground floor lobby, there is a statue of George Washington. An elevator provides transportation to the top floor, the 500' observation deck at the base of the pyramidion. The observation deck provides views out two windows on the north, south, east, and west sides of the pyramidion.