Peaking at 555ft (and 5in) and composed of 36,000 blocks of stone, the Washington Monument is the district's tallest structure. Political shenanigans followed by the Civil War interrupted its construction. When work began anew, a new quarry sourced the marble; note the delineation in color where the old and new marble meet about a third of the way up. Recent repairs on the monument, completed in 2019, involved an update of the elevator system and the opening of a new security screening facility.
Entry is ticketed. Same-day passes for a timed entrance are available at the kiosk by the monument. During peak season it's a good idea to reserve tickets in advance by phone (877-444-6777) or online (www.recreation.gov) for a small fee.
