United States

How to climb the great Washington Memorial Obelisk: schedules, prices

Washington Memorial from the Capitol
Washington Memorial from the Capitol

I tell you that you Washington visit will have as its central axis the great meadow of the National Mall, where the most important monuments and museums of the capital of United States.

And in the center of this great meadow, geographically separating the two ends of it that occupy The capitol and Lincoln Memorial, you find an immense obelisk.

Said obelisk that can be seen from much of the city is the monument built in memory of George Washington, who promoted the independence of the United States and was its first president.

Curiosities about the history of the Washington Memorial

Already in 1783 in the United States Congress A proposal was presented to erect an equestrian statue in tribute to George Washington, but it was finally in 1848 when construction of the current monument began.

With a shape similar to that of a egyptian obelisk, this monument was not completed until many years later, in 1884.

Four years later it was opened to the public so that people could climb to the top of it.

How tall is the Washington Memorial Obelisk?

In fact, with his Meters 169 and built in marble and granite, the Washington Memorial It has become the tallest stone structure in the world.

Washington Memorial from the Capitol
Washington Memorial from the Capitol

How to go up to visit the Washington Memorial

Face to visit the Washington Monument, currently an elevator avoids ascending the almost 500 steps necessary to reach the panoramic terrace of the monolith.

To visit it you can go on the same day of your visit, in advance of it, to collect the free tickets as you need (no more than six at a time), being able to choose the time to go to the top of the monument.

Washington Monument schedules 

The Washington Monument visiting hours to go up to the aforementioned terrace are every day from 9 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon, with last access one hour before.

The visit usually lasts half an hour, and you must bear in mind that it may be affected by inclement weather.

Washington Memorial from the Lincoln Memorial
Washington Memorial from the Lincoln Memorial

How to book tickets to climb the Washington Monument

Now, the Washington Memorial It is usually a very busy visit, and although the ticket offices open at 8:30 a.m. to start distributing reservations, in high season it is not unusual for queues to start at 7 in the morning.

For avoid these lines, you can make a online booking on the website of National Park Service Ticket, up to three months in advance, which is essential if your visit is going to be during high season, specifically from March to June, or on weekends.

ticket price

In this case, the entrance fee to climb the Washington Memorial It is one dollar, an amount that is charged as a fee for the early reservation service.

About the Author

José Luis Sarralde

Journalist and traveler throughout his life, José Luis Sarralde is the founder of Guías Viajar, where since 2008 he has been capturing his travel experiences around the world, specializing in cultural and scenic destinations in Spain and Europe.

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