Washington Monument
National Mall and Memorial Parks
The Washington Monument dominates the DC skyline as a tribute to George Washington's military leadership, statesmanship, and character. Constructed from marble, granite and gneiss, the Monument is the world's tallest free-standing stone structure, towering 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches (169 meters) above the nation’s capital.
Plans for a national monument to General George Washington began as early as 1783 when Congress passed a resolution to erect an equestrian statue to honor him. This project met with numerous challenges and failed to gain approval.
The Washington National Monument Society, a private organization, held fund raising events and a design competition to build a monument to honor Washington’s legacy. Robert Mills’ design was selected, and construction was started. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; however, The Washington National Monument Society soon faced challenges due to political turmoil and a lack of funds. By 1854 money ran out and construction halted. With the impending American Civil War in the horizon, there was no interest in completing the monument, which at the time stood at just 150-feet.
The second phase of construction began in 1876 when the US Army Corps of Engineers was assigned the task of completing the monument. Forced to switch quarries, the Washington Monument has a two-toned look with marble from Maryland and Massachusetts. Construction of the monument was completed in 1884, and it was dedicated on February 21, 1885, one day before Washington’s birthday. The Washington Monument was opened to the public in 1888 with visitors having a choice between using the elevator or stairs to reach the top.
Visitors enter the monument and then ascend via elevator to the 500-foot level to behold sweeping views of the city. To learn more about Washington the man, the engineering marvel of the monument, and the design of the city named in his honor, Park Rangers are available at each level to provide insight and fun facts into the stories of this legacy.
The Washington Monument dominates the DC skyline as a tribute to George Washington's military leadership, statesmanship, and character. Constructed from marble, granite and gneiss, the Monument is the world's tallest free-standing stone structure, towering 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches (169 meters) above the nation’s capital.
Plans for a national monument to General George Washington began as early as 1783 when Congress passed a resolution to erect an equestrian statue to honor him. This project met with numerous challenges and failed to gain approval.
The Washington National Monument Society, a private organization, held fund raising events and a design competition to build a monument to honor Washington’s legacy. Robert Mills’ design was selected, and construction was started. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; however, The Washington National Monument Society soon faced challenges due to political turmoil and a lack of funds. By 1854 money ran out and construction halted. With the impending American Civil War in the horizon, there was no interest in completing the monument, which at the time stood at just 150-feet.
The second phase of construction began in 1876 when the US Army Corps of Engineers was assigned the task of completing the monument. Forced to switch quarries, the Washington Monument has a two-toned look with marble from Maryland and Massachusetts. Construction of the monument was completed in 1884, and it was dedicated on February 21, 1885, one day before Washington’s birthday. The Washington Monument was opened to the public in 1888 with visitors having a choice between using the elevator or stairs to reach the top.
Visitors enter the monument and then ascend via elevator to the 500-foot level to behold sweeping views of the city. To learn more about Washington the man, the engineering marvel of the monument, and the design of the city named in his honor, Park Rangers are available at each level to provide insight and fun facts into the stories of this legacy.
Need to Know
- Tickets
Online advanced tickets
30 Day Advanced Reservations - Visitors who wish to enter the Washington Monument can reserve tickets 30 days in advance. The tickets will be available online starting at 10:00am, 30 days before the desired date of the visit. For Example, visitors who would like to reserve tickets for June 30th can do so on May 31st when they become available at 10:00am.
Day Before Advanced Reservations - Visitors who wish to enter the Washington Monument the next day can do so by reserving their tickets at 10:00am the day before. For example, visitors who would like to reserve tickets for June 30th can do so on June 29th at 10:00am.
Both 30-day advanced tickets and day before tickets can be reserved on recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Though the tickets to the Washington Monument are free, there is a non-refundable $1.00 service fee per ticket for processing service costs.
Group Reservations - Groups may reserve up to 55 tickets up to 30 days in advance at recreation.gov ONLY. No walk-ups are available for group tours. There is a non-refundable $1.00 service charge per ticket to cover the reservation service.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are NOT refundable, are NOT transferable and are NOT for resale. Only the Recreation.gov ticket with a valid QR code will be scanned for entry. No other tour reservation information such as bar codes will be accepted.
The call center only has access to the same ticket inventory as available on this page. The call center does not have access to any additional tickets. If a tour time is shown as sold out, there are no more advance reservation tickets for that day.
Walk-up Tickets (Same Day Only)
The walk-up same day tickets are FREE and can be acquired from the Washington Monument Lodge. The Washington Monument Lodge is a small stone building located on 15th Street Northwest, Washington DC 20004. It is just below the Washington Monument facing the United States Capitol to the east. Visitors to the Washington Monument Lodge can obtain tickets, use the public restrooms, and visit America’s National Parks store. The ticket window is located at the back of the building (the side facing the Washington Monument). Ticket distribution begins at 8:45am and is on a first-come, first-served basis. One visitor (must be over 16-years old) can request up to six tickets for their party (children under two do not need a ticket).
PLEASE NOTE: The Washington Monument Lodge is the only National Park Service official ticket distributor for the Washington Monument. On weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) tickets are highly sought after and the line will begin to form early, it is highly recommended to arrive as early as possible to join the waiting line. Weather, holidays and peak season will also be factors when considering how early to show up to obtain a ticket for the Washington Monument. Once all tickets have been distributed, the ticket window will close and will re-open at 8:45am on the next day of operations.
Cancellations
Once reservations are made, No modifications will be allowed. Tickets may be cancelled until 2:00pm the day prior to the tour.
Please Note: The National Park Service prioritizes visitor safety and will close the Washington Monument for inclement weather, safety or security risk to visitor safety and for other unforeseen factors. In the event of an unforeseen closure, the National Park Service will try to accommodate affected ticket holders when operations resume, but they DO NOT guarantee entrance. No exchanges or refunds will be offered, and a new ticket will be required.
What To Expect During Your Visit
Upon your arrival at the Washington Monument, look for the sign with your posted time-entry by the benches in front of the Monument or ask a Park Ranger where to stand in line. Please prepare for potential exposure to the sun, wind, rain, and extreme temperatures. Additionally, there are no restrooms, drinking water, food, or other amenities within the Monument.
Prior to your entrance into the Washington Monument, a Park Ranger will provide a security briefing about the prohibited items. Due to the limited size of the security screening area, visitors will be placed into groups of 9 visitors per line and escorted to the door by a Park Ranger. During your wait, please feel free to ask the Park Rangers questions about the Washington Monument, they love questions!
Once a group of visitors has entered the security screening area, a Park Ranger will escort the next group of 9 visitors at the line to the door. At the door, another Park Ranger will scan your ticket. Valid tickets include the tickets handed out at the Washington Monument Lodge and on recreation.gov. Tickets from recreation.gov can be displayed in a printed, digital, or National Park Service app format. Once the group within security screening area has passed through, the next group at the door will enter. Security guards will provide additional security instructions and guide visitors through the screening process. After passing security, visitors will be granted access into the Washington Monument.
Photography and video recording within the security area is prohibited, but once visitors clear the security area and pass the glass doors into the Monument, photography and video recording is allowed. At the base of the Monument, visitors will be greeted by another Park Ranger. They will be able to see an impressive bronze profile of George Washington above the elevator door, and further above an incredible work of Egyptian motif overlooks those who enter the monument. The inside of the Washington Monument provides visitors with the opportunity to see Civil War graffiti and the best life-like statue of George Washington by Jean Antoinne Houdon. Benches provide visitors with the opportunity to sit down while they wait for the elevator (there is only one elevator).
Groups of up to 18 can board the elevator from the westside, with a quick trip of 70-seconds to the top, a brief video on the elevator ride explains the Washington Monument and what to expect. Once at the top of the Washington Monument, the eastside doors of the elevator will open, and another Park Ranger will greet and give further directions to the visitors. Once at the 500-foot observation level, visitors can go to any available window to look over the nation’s capital and enjoy the view.
From the observation level, a small set of stairs leads down to the museum located at the 490-foot level. If visitors are not able to use the stairs, they may request the use of the elevator from the Park Ranger. The museum provides fascinating information on the history of the Washington Monument, photos during the construction and the Civil War era. Additional highlights of the museum include lightning rods struck over the years, an exhibit on the commemorative stones, a 3D miniature Washington Monument and a piece of marble for visitors to touch.
For those ready to return to the ground level, the line for the elevator forms to the right of the westside elevator doors. The elevator ride down offers a video presentation on the commemorative stones that line the interior of the Washington Monument. These stones were gifts to honor George Washington by States, Countries and social organizations.
Once at the ground level, the eastside elevator doors will open, and a Park Ranger will direct visitors to the exit. The Washington Monument Lodge can be seen upon exiting the Monument, just down the hill. There, visitors will find public restrooms and the Washington Monument gift store- a great place to pick up a souvenir to remember your visit.
- Arrival Time
Visitors are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes early before their scheduled ticket time. Timed-entry ticket signs will be located by the benches in front of the Washington Monument. National Park Service Park Rangers will provide a security briefing on prohibited items into the Monument and can answer any questions that visitors may have. The National Park Service reserves the right to deny entry into the Monument if visitors arrive past the scheduled time listed on their ticket. For example: If you obtain a 10:00am ticket, please note that you will have 30 minutes to arrive at the Washington Monument. The Park Rangers will do their best to accommodate late arrivals, but the National Park Service makes no guarantee that entrance will be permitted upon lateness of visitor(s).
- Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
The National Park Service and the United States Park Police prohibits the following inside the Washington Monument:
• Smoking and/or vaping is not permitted inside of the Washington Monument or on the plaza
• Weapons such as guns, ammunition or any object with a blade or point such as pocket-knives, scissors, nail clippers, boxcutters, tweezers, utensils and tools are not allowed
• Food and drink (except a small quantity of sealed food items, bottled water and baby formula in clear plastic bottles)
• Glass or ceramic items such as bottles or mugs
• Mace or aerosols (such as spray sunscreen, spray deodorant or bug repellent)
• Strollers
• Animals (except for service animals.) Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals
• Bags larger than 18x16x 8 inches
• Recreational items such as bicycles, skateboards or scooters
• Matches, cigarette lighters and anything that can cause a flame
• Explosives or anything that is flammable, and
• Additional items as listed in the Washington Monument website
PLEASE NOTE: There is no public storage available or provided parking area for strollers. Visitors are encouraged to leave items in their hotels, cars or with a member of their group not entering the Monument. Please do not leave bags or other property unattended on the plaza of the Washington Monument. National Park Service rangers will not hold any prohibited or personal item(s) and will discourage leaving any item(s) unattended.
- Operating Hours
The Washington Monument is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm. The last timed entry ticket into the Washington Monument is 4:00pm with entrances ceasing at 4:30pm. Any visitor arriving after 4:30pm will NOT be granted entrance. The Washington Monument is closed once a month for scheduled routine maintenance. It is also closed in the afternoon on July 3rd, and all day on July 4th and December 25th. Unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather, safety and security may also force partial or full closure of the site.
- Unexpected Closures
Please note that in the event of an unforeseen or premature closure of the Washington Monument, all service fees are NOT refundable. New tickets will be required for entrance into the Washington Monument. The National Park Service Park Rangers will do their best to accommodate ticketed visitors affected by the closure when operations resume, but they make no guarantee of entrance.
- Waiting Area
Ticket holders awaiting entry gather at the plaza bench lines near the monument entrance. Ticket holders should prepare for potential exposure to the sun, wind, rain and extreme temperatures. There are no restrooms, drinking water, food, or other amenities within the monument.
- Accessibility
The Washington Monument is ADA accessible
Benches are available for visitor use outside at the base of the Washington Monument and inside at the museum located at the 490-foot level.
The Washington Monument has an elevator that allows all visitors to ascend to the top of the Monument. An introductory video on the elevator provides a brief history of the Washington Monument and what to expect once at the top.
Upon reaching the 500-foot level of the Washington Monument, visitors can enjoy the amazing views of the city. There are two windows on each directional side of the Washington Monument, the left-side directional windows will have a set of steps that can be used to aid visitors to see out of the windows (kids love these). The right-side directional windows will have sturdy hand bars for those in need of support while looking out the windows. Park Rangers at the top can provide a periscope for those who are in wheelchairs or on mobility scooters to aid in looking out the windows.
For those with vision impairment, the observation windows have braille to identify the location of sites such as the White House and the Capitol building. The museum provides a 3D miniature model of the Washington Monument and a piece of marble that can be touched.
Stairs are available to descend to the museum located at the 490-foot level. If visitors are unable to use the stairs, a Park Ranger at the top level can facilitate elevator access. From the 490-foot level, visitors wait in line for the elevator to go back down to the ground level.
- Tickets Required
Every visitor over the age of two must have an individual ticket.
Each Recreation.gov user account may purchase up to six tickets per day.
Booking Windows
- 10 AM ET 30 days in advance
- 10 AM ET 1 day in advance
Changes and Cancellations
Walk Up Tickets (Same Day Only)
The Washington Monument Lodge, located along 15th Street between Madison and Jefferson drives, opens at 8:45 a.m. for distribution of free, same day, timed tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. One person (16 years +) may obtain up to six tickets as well as request their preferred ticket time. All visitors (including children ages 2+) must have a ticket to enter the Washington Monument. During peak season, tickets run out quickly. Be advised that many visitors form a line to wait long before the ticket window opens.
Online Advance Tickets
30 Day Advance Reservations - Order tickets online up to a month in advance of your visit. Inventory for the next available day (30 days out) becomes available at 10 a.m. each morning (e.g. - on May 7 at 10 a.m., tickets will become available for visits on June 6).
24-Hour Advance Reservations - Didn't get tickets in advance or planning a last minute visit? A limited number of additional tickets are made available at 10 a.m. each day for the next day's visits (e.g. - on May 7 at 10 a.m., tickets will become available for visits on May 8).
Both 30 Day Advance and 24 Hour Advance reservations may be made at recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. 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. Ticket availability is limited and all tickets for a given day are often reserved the day they become available.
Group Tickets (Online Only)
Groups may reserve up to 55 tickets up to 30 days in advance at recreation.gov ONLY. No walk ups are available for group tours. There is a $1.00 service charge per ticket to cover the reservation service.
No modifications allowed. Tickets may be cancelled until 2:00PM the day prior to the tour, but no refund will be offered. In the case that the Monument must close, tickets will not be exchanged or refunded.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
900 OHIO DRIVE, SW Washington DC 20024
Phone Number
(202) 426-6841
