About The Washington Monument

As one of the nation's biggest tourist attractions, Washington D.C. has countless sites that are worth a visit. These range from museums to parks to important political and historical sites. One of the most popular sites for visitors to the nation's capitol is the Washington Monument. Built as a tribute to George Washington, this stone structure draws visitors from all over the world. Today, the monument is ran and maintained by the U.S. National Parks Service. It is open to the public for daily tours.

History

As the father of our country and the first United States President, George Washington has been revered by Americans throughout his life and ever since. Many wanted to build a monument to recognize his achievements while he was still alive, but he refused. After he died, Congress pushed forward with the idea. In 1848, construction started on the Washington Monument. It was designed by architect Robert Mills. The building was interrupted several times, both by lack of funding and the Civil War. It was finally completed in 1884, but it was not opened to the public until 1888.

Features

Towering at 555 feet above the earth, the Washington Monument is the second largest stone structure in the world. It is built in the form of an obelisk, a structure made famous by the ancient Egyptians. The interior is built from granite, though the exterior is made from white marble. The building features an aluminum cap, which was--at the time of its erection--a material more valuable than even gold. Visitors will notice that the color of the marble is lighter at the bottom half of the structure than at the top. This is because the marble for the bottom can from a different quarry.

Geography

The Washington Monument sits in the very heart of downtown Washington D.C. It sits at one end of the National Mall. The United States Capitol Building lies at the opposite end. There is a large expanse of grassy surface that is used for events, political happenings and simply for strolling or jogging. Along both sides of the Mall sit the many branches of the Smithsonian Museum, with the Museum of American History adjacent to the Monument itself. Behind the Monument sits the reflecting pool and the Lincoln Memorial.

Misconceptions

There are many popular theories related to the monument and its possible relation to the free masons, though none of these have ever been substantiated. One of the most widely believed misconceptions about the Washington Monument is that the District's law states that no building in Washington can ever be built that is taller than the monument. This is false. There is not now--nor has there ever been--a law of this kind.

Considerations

If you would like to visit the Monument, proper preparation is required. As one of the top tourist attractions in Washington D.C., the Monument receives over half a million visitors per year. This is quite a large number considering it's only open to the public from 9 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Every visitor must have a ticket to enter. Although they are free, a limited number are available each day. It's important to pick them up early in the morning. If you'd prefer, advance tickets can be reserved for a fee.