The Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills and eventually completed by Thomas Casey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, honors and memorializes George Washington at the center of the nation's capital.

The National Park Service (NPS), an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is currently responsible for the operation, maintenance, and preservation of the Washington Monument. Specifically, it falls under the jurisdiction of the National Mall and Memorial Parks administrative unit. While the monument was originally a project of the private Washington National Monument Society (founded in 1833), ownership and the responsibility for its completion were transferred to the Federal Government in 1876 after the society ran out of funds. Today, the NPS manages the ticketing system for the elevator tours, provides the "Ranger" staff who give historical talks, and oversees the complex structural maintenance required for the 555-foot marble obelisk. Security for the site is provided by the United States Park Police, who are responsible for the safety of the millions of visitors who walk the grounds each year. In 2026, the NPS continues to work with private partners, such as the Trust for the National Mall, to fund major restorations and technological upgrades to the monument's aging infrastructure.