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Washington: The Monument
National Mall and Memorial Parks
The Washington Monument honors George Washington, hero of the American Revolution and the first president of the United States. When this stunning stone obelisk was completed in 1884, it was the tallest building in the world. Today the monument towers over Washington, DC, reminding us of Washington's life and legacy.
Just the facts:
Height: 555 feet, 5 1/8 inches
Steps: 896
Stones: about 36,000
Weight: 81,000 tons (as much as 6,480 school buses)
150 feet up the stones change color because they came from different quarries during two construction periods.
Soldiers drill on the White House Ellipse during the Civil War. The monument behind them remains unfinished. (Library of Congress) |