Must-seeSight · ViewpointPaidOutdoors

Washington Monument

The 555-foot (169 m) obelisk at the center of the Mall, and the landmark you'll see from everywhere. An elevator takes you to the top for the best view of the city. Free same-day tickets go from the Monument Lodge on 15th Street at 8:45 AM; advance tickets on Recreation.gov cost $1 and open 30 days ahead. Closed one day a month for maintenance.

Reserve tickets →Official website
Photo: Greyfiveys · CC BY-SA 4.0
Open
Every day 9 AM–5 PM, except July 4, December 25 and one maintenance day a month
Price
Free same-day tickets at the Washington Monument Lodge from 8:45 AM; advance tickets on Recreation.gov carry a $1 fee.
Time needed
1 hour
Best time
A clear morning. Advance tickets are released 30 days ahead at 10 AM.
Address
2 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20024Google MapsApple Maps
Getting there
Smithsonian Metro (Blue, Orange, Silver), then a 10-minute walk. The Lodge is on 15th Street between Madison and Jefferson Drives.
Accessibility
Accessible, with the elevator to the top.
On site
No food inside; security screening before the elevator.

Why go

The white marble obelisk, finished in 1884, is the centerpiece of the Mall and the tallest structure in Washington. A change in the color of the stone about a third of the way up marks where construction stopped for over 20 years around the Civil War. An elevator takes you to the observation level for the best view in the city, across the Mall to the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial and the White House.

Tips

  • Same-day tickets go quickly in spring and summer; get to the Lodge early.
  • Check the monthly maintenance closure dates before you plan around it.

Nearby

National Museum of African American History and Culture5 min walk · Must-seeUnited States Holocaust Memorial Museum6 min walkNational Museum of Natural History14 min walk · Must-seeTidal Basin: Jefferson, MLK and FDR memorials15 min walk

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