Is it worth going to the top of Washington Monument?

This tour is an elevator ride to the top. It is worth it and you will probably never get a nother chance. So make a reservation and go. There is a very limited number of people allowed up the monument each day.



People Also Ask

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.

MORE DETAILS

Though there is no admission fee for the Washington Monument, there is a $1.00 service charge per ticket to cover reservation service; these fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.

MORE DETAILS

You MUST get in line by 8 am latest for the walk-in tickets 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. For weekdays, you can arrive a little later.

MORE DETAILS

The Washington Monument opened to the public in 1888. The 1893 Rand, McNally travel guide to Washington noted: “A staircase of 900 steps wends its way to the top, around an interior shaft of iron pillars, in which the elevator runs; few people walk up, but many people descend that way.”

MORE DETAILS

“We were able to determine about 3/8 of an inch had been melted off from the very top.” That means the original 1884 measurement, completed with much less sophisticated equipment, was within ¾ of an inch of the findings from the newest survey, using the original brass markers as a base point.

MORE DETAILS

Scientists then installed a spiked collar with copper rods that successfully diverted strikes for decades. During renovations following a 2011 earthquake, this old equipment was removed and replaced with two modern lightning rods, per Atlas Obscura. (The aluminum pyramid remains affixed to the top of the obelisk.)

MORE DETAILS

Public Self-Guided Tours The first, and most frequent way, is on a walk-through tour. These self-guided public tours are scheduled Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 12 noon. Visitors move from room to room at their own pace; once inside the White House, most take about 15 to 20 minutes.

MORE DETAILS

The Lincoln Memorial has no fees or reservations associated with a visit. Please visit the National Mall and Memorial Parks Fees and Passes page for information on Fees and Passes parkwide. Some activities may require a special permit such as weddings, commercial photography and demonstrations.

MORE DETAILS

The interior is occupied by iron stairs that spiral up the walls, with an elevator in the center, each supported by four iron columns, which do not support the stone structure.

MORE DETAILS

The restoration began in January 1998 when the monument was closed so that heating and air-conditioning systems could be upgraded. The elevator, which dates from 1959, also was modernized. That project alone cost $1.9 million.

MORE DETAILS

Visiting the Washington Monument: Even though admission is free, you'll need a ticket; see below for details. Travel light and definitely don't bring large backpacks, strollers, or open containers of food or drink, none of which are allowed inside the Monument.

MORE DETAILS

5 Things You Might Not Know About the Washington Monument
  • Plans for the monument began even before Washington was elected president. ...
  • The original design for the monument was much different than what ended up being built. ...
  • The monument was once the site of a hostage situation. ...
  • The monument has survived an earthquake.


MORE DETAILS