Washington Monument

Lonely Planet review

Strangely, this pale, quite phallic, obelisk needling the sky near the Mall's west end was originally conceived as an equestrian statue to honor George Washington, the country's first president. We guess it grew a little big for its britches. At 555ft the monument is not only the tallest building in DC (by federal law no structure can reach above it), it is also the tallest masonry structure in the world!

Construction began in 1848 but a lack of funds during the Civil War kept building in a quagmire and the 90,854-ton brick and marble structure was not completed until 1888. The original marble was drawn from Maryland, but the source dried up about a third of the way through construction and contractors had to turn to Massachusetts for marble. If you look closely there is a visible delineation in color where the old and new marble meet.

Inside, an elevator quickly whisks you to an observation landing with spectacular views. Most agree the panoramic green and marble vista of Washington and her rivers is well worth any wait to get up. In the days before September 11, 2001 it was possible to descend the 897 steps - believe it or not, when the monument first opened the elevator was not considered safe for women so, while men got to ride in style to the top, women had to make the trek on foot! Talk about gender equality. Security concerns today mean no one takes the stairs.

Same-day tickets for a timed entrance to the monument are available at the ticket kiosk on the monument grounds. Distribution starts at 08:00 ; arrive early - tickets are limited. Alternatively, you can reserve your tickets for a small fee by calling in advance. Food, drink and large bags are prohibited.