From the top of the Washington Monument
Today I finally visited the highest building in Washington DC with a group of friends. If you’d like to check out the views from the top of the Washington Monument, keep reading!
The famous obelisk has recently reopened. As I explained in one of my first posts last year, the monument went through some renovations following an earthquake in 2011 that affected its structure.
What to know about the Washington Monument
This obelisk was built to honor George Washington, the United States‘ first president. The 555-foot marble monument towers over Washington, D.C and is considered a focal point. Actually, buildings in the city aren’t allowed to be higher than this structure!
The construction of this memorial began in 1848 and ended almost 30 years later, in 1884, due to lack of funds because of the American Civil War. Hence the difference in the type of marble! Fifty flags representing all the states in the country surround the obelisk.
How do I get to the Washington Monument?
This iconic site is located in the National Mall, in the Northwest part of Washington DC. In order to arrive there by public transportation, you have various options detailed here.
Access is free and tickets are distributed every day at the monument itself. However it is recommended to book online in advance through the following link.
The views from the Washington Monument
After boarding an elevator with one of the Park Rangers administering this site, you will get to the top of the obelisk in 70 seconds. Be ready to enjoy the bird’s eye views!
North view
East view
The east view with the Capitol in the far end 
Federal buildings
South view
West view
To wrap up the day, we walked around the nearby Penn Quarter neighborhood and had an authentic burger at Ollie´s Trolley (425 11th St, NW).
I hope you enjoyed the tour to the Washington Monument!
Have you been or are you planning to visit? Let me know in the comments below!
