Washington Monument
History of the Washington Monument
The Washington Monument was built in honor of our first president George Washington. The obelisk stands at 555 feet tall today. The obelisk was first proposed in 1800, with construction beginning in 1848. It was finally opened to the public in 1888. The construction of the monument took longer than anticipated due to the American people's skepticism towards monuments at the time between the American Revolution and the Civil War. Today it still holds the title of the world's tallest stone structure. It is maintained by the National Park Service.
Visiting the Monument
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. If traveling by bus, take DC Circulator's National Mall route or ride Metrobus routes 32, 34 or 36. If driving, visitor parking is available on Ohio Drive, between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. Note that street parking is often limited near the National Mall.
Gallery
