Washington Monument Picture

Washington Monument with American flags circling the monument.

Alone among the Founders of the United States, George Washington earned the title "Father of his Country" in recognition of his leadership in the cause of American independence.

Appointed commander of the Continental Army in 1775, he molded a fighting force that won independence.

In 1787 as President of the Constitutional Convention, he helped guide the deliberations to form a government that has lasted for more than 200 years. Two years later he was unanimously elected the first President of the United States.

Washington Monument facts:

• Cornerstone laid: July 4, 1848
• Capstone set: December 6, 1884
• Dedicated: February 21, 1885
• Officially opened to the public: October 9, 1888
• Designed by Robert Mills
• Total height of monument: 555 feet, 5 1/8 inches
• Height from lobby to observation level: 500 feet
  or 50 stories
• Width at base of monument: 55 feet 1 1/2 inches
• Width at top of shaft: 34 feet 5 ½ inches
• Thickness of monument walls at base: 15 feet
• Total number of blocks in monument: 36,491
• Elevator trip: 60 seconds each way
• Number of steps in stairwell: 896

Each day free tickets for elevator rides to the top of the monument are distributed.

These tickets, good for that day only, are available at a booth on the Washington Monument grounds at 15th Street and Jefferson Drive on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hours for the ticket booth are 8 AM to 4:30 PM, but tickets run out early.

No food, drink, or large bags are allowed in the monument.

Open: Every day, except Christmas
Hours: 9 AM to 4:45 PM
Admission: Free

Official Web Site: Washington Monument