The Washington Monument was the first monument constructed on the National Mall in honor of our founding father and first president. Construction lasted for decades before the monument was completed in 1884.

Washington Monument

Washington Monument location

The Washington Monument is located in the center of the National Mall. It is approximately halfway between the Capitol and Lincoln Memorial and almost directly south of the White House. The GPS address is 2 15th St NW.

Getting to the Washington Monument

There are several transportation options to get to the Washington Monument. 

  • Metro: Take the orange, blue, or silver line to the Smithsonian station. Exit via the “National Mall” side and then walk westbound across the National Mall. It is easy to find the Washington Monument because it is visible as soon as you come above ground. The walk takes about nine minutes.
  • DC Circulator: Take the National Mall Circulator bus from anywhere on the National Mall. This bus route starts at Union Station and then makes a big loop past the Capitol, museums and monuments and memorials.
  • Capital Bikeshare: You can ride a Capital Bikeshare bike from anywhere into the city to the closest station which is named “Jefferson Dr & 14th St SW”.

TIP: The best and easiest way to see the Washington Monument is on a guided tour. Our walking tours cover all of the major monuments and memorials on the National Mall. We use an efficient route that allows you to see all of them in three hours or less.

A few interesting facts

  • The Washington Monument stands 555 feet. It is the tallest building in Washington, DC and was the tallest building in the world when it opened (until the Eiffel Tower broke the record a few years later).
  • Because Washington, DC does not have any tall buildings, once you reach the top you can see over 30 miles on a clear day.
  • There is a pyramid made of aluminum at the top of the monument. In 1884 aluminum was a very expensive precious metal, almost the same price as silver!

Coming to Washington, DC and want to learn a whole lot more about the Washington Monument?

Trip Hacks DC was founded by Rob, a veteran tour guide in the Nation’s Capital. Trip Hacks DC provides tips, tricks and travel hacks for planning your trip; and guided tours to show you around once you get here. Our tours are family and school group friendly and our guides specialize in the major Washington, DC sites. Click here to check out the upcoming tour options and to book your tour here today! Feel free to contact us if you have any tour questions.