NPS
Washington Monument
Welcome to the Washington Monument, a unit of National Mall and Memorial Parks.
Washington Monument Closed
The Washington Monument is currently closed for repairs due to an earthquake on August 23, 2011.
Tickets Required to Visit
Tickets are required for all Washington Monument visitors ages 2+. Tickets are for a specific time block.
There are two ways to obtain tickets:
- Advance reservations are available through recreation.gov. Advance reservations carry a nonrefundable service fee.
- Free tickets are available at the ticket window at the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street adjacent to the Washington Monument (map). These tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Plan to arrive early to obtain these tickets; supplies are limited.
Considerations
- The waiting area is outdoors and exposed to sun, wind, ambient temperature, and precipitation.
- For your safety, the Washington Monument may be closed for unsuitable weather conditions including high wind and thunderstorms.
- In the event the Washington Monument is closed, tickets will be voided for the affected tour times.
- Visitors are subject to security screening. Weapons, strollers, and large bags are among the prohibited items. Open food and drink are not permitted.
- No bathrooms are available at the Washington Monument. The nearest restrooms are in the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street.
What to Expect on a Tour
- Arrive to the Washington Monument grounds 15 minutes before the tour time indicated on your ticket.
- Signs posted will indicate the waiting areas for tour times near the benches on the east side of the Washington Monument
- Rangers will direct you to the security area in small groups, where security screening will be performed
- You will wait in the ground floor lobby for the elevator.
- A park ranger will help you board the elevator and provide commentary on the ascent, a ride of approximately 70 seconds
- Visitors may tour the 500' level observation deck with 8 windows at their leisure
- Visitors proceed down the steps to the 490' level museum, where they may queue up to enter the descent elevator. Visitors with limited mobility may take the elevator to the museum level from the 500' level when it is available.
- Rangers will help you board the elevator and provide commentary on the approximately 2-minute descent. The elevator slows in preprogrammed areas of the monument to provide passengers with views of select areas of the monument's interior.
- Upon reaching the ground floor, passengers exit the elevator and the monument
