Note: The Washington Monument is closed until 2019, as the National Park Service is updating the elevator system.
Built for George Washington, The Washington Monument is one of the most — if not the most — iconic landmarks in Washington D.C. Inside, an elevator provides transportation to the top — 555 feet above — where an observation deck with city views awaits. The building also houses a small museum.
Admission is free, though tickets are required to tour the building. To get tickets, visit The Washington Monument Lodge, which opens at 8:30 a.m. daily. One person can request up to six tickets, as well as a time they’d like to visit the monument on the same day the tickets are acquired. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day) are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; be aware that you’ll still have to wait in line to tour the building, and that there is no shade in the waiting area. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last tour at 4:45 p.m.
The Washington Monument is the centerpiece of the National Mall, which is home to many memorials and monuments, as well as museums.
