What can you see from the top of the Washington Monument?

What can you see from the top of the Washington Monument? D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are visible from the top of the Washington Monument.

What is at the top of the Washington Monument?

That 9-inch aluminum pyramid, which completes the top of the structure as it narrows to a point, is 100-ounces of solid aluminum, part of the monument's lightning protection system. In the 1880s, aluminum was a rare metal, selling for $1.10 per ounce and used primarily for jewelry.

What's hidden under the Washington Monument?

Unknown to most passersby, there's a 12-foot-tall replica of the Washington Monument under a manhole near the actual monument. Officially known as “Bench Mark A,” this underground oddity is actually a Geodetic Control Point that's used by surveyors.

Can you go to the top of the Washington Monument?

Today, visitors to Washington DC can tour the monument and visit it day or night, including climbing to the top of the obelisk. Although it is free and open to the public, guests need to get tickets in order to tour the monument.

What is inside Washington Monument?

What is inside the Washington Monument? Inside the ground floor lobby, there is a statue of George Washington. An elevator provides transportation to the top floor, the 500' observation deck at the base of the pyramidion.

What's inside the Washington Monument?

Is the Washington Monument sinking?

The Washington Monument was last surveyed in 2009. Since its completion in 1884, data shows it has sunk nearly 2 inches.

Is there a Bible in the cornerstone of the Washington Monument?

The bible was one of the items found in the cornerstone time capsule of Baltimore's Washington Monument. Two hundred years ago the first Washington Monument was built in Baltimore, and now, missing pieces of history from that original monument are being revealed.

Can you climb the stairs in the Washington Monument?

According to the National Park Service's Mike Litterst, the steps of the Washington Monument were closed for walking up in 1971, and then closed altogether — up and down — in 1976. There were occasional exceptions, such as special ranger-led tours that took visitors past the 190 carved memorial stones inside the shaft.

Is there a basement in the Washington Monument?

Thanks to G. Krug and Son Ironworks for sharing this neat shot from the ongoing restoration of the Washington Monument. Tons of brick and marble make up this 178-foot tall icon—all supported by the stone and brick arches down in the “basement.”

What is buried in cornerstone of Washington Monument?

On July 4, 1848, thousands of people poured into the nation's capital to celebrate not only the country's birth, but also the laying of the 25,400-pound, white marble cornerstone of the Washington Monument.

What's beneath the Lincoln Memorial?

Underneath the Lincoln Memorial is a large cavernous area with dirt floors and concrete walls. Hanging from the ceiling beneath where Lincoln sits are hundreds of stalactite formations.

What's on the capstone of the Washington Monument?

“Aluminum was a perfect choice for the top of the monument—it was a good lightening protector, it was strong, it wouldn't tarnish, it resembled the color of the monument's marble, and it was rare.

Is there an elevator inside the Washington Monument?

There have been periodic closures and outages in the decades since — including, notably in 2011 when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake damaged the monument — but the modern elevator that was installed in 2019 is the only way for visitors ascend the monument these days because the stairs are closed to the public.

What does the obelisk represent?

For Egyptians, the obelisk was a reverential monument, commemorating the dead, representing their kings, and honoring their gods. These monuments were representational in both structure and arrangement, serving as monuments with a complete structure of understanding.

What are 5 facts about the Washington Monument?

How much did the Washington Monument cost in today's dollars?

It cost $1,187,710 to build the Monument which is equivalent to $30 million dollars in today's currency. The trowel used to lay the cornerstone of the Monument was the same trowel used by George Washington to lay the cornerstone of the Capitol in 1793.

What was George Washington's Prayer for America?

Almighty God: We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow-citizens of the ...

Are there rooms inside the Lincoln Memorial?

The Lincoln Memorial interior is divided into three chambers (north, south, and central). Two rows of four Ionic columns separate the chambers. Gaze up at these 50 foot high columns.

Where is the mini Washington Monument?

Today, just south of the famous monument, the Washington Monument "mini-me" sits nestled under the ground—surrounded by bricks and hiding in plain sight underneath a manhole. If you don't know to look for it, it's extremely easy to miss.

How many flags are around the Washington Monument?

The 50 American flags encircling the base of the monument represent the 50 States. A unique feature of the Washington Monument is the 193 memorial stones installed on its east and west interior walls.

What is underneath the National Mall?

The National Mall Underground, a two-story, multi-purpose flood reservoir facility to be located beneath the grass panels between the Smithsonian Castle and the Natural History Museum, will be able to take in 30 million gallons of stormwater, more than the volume of the 200-year flood in 2006.

How deep is the water at the Washington Monument?

It has a depth of approximately 18 in (46 cm) on the sides and 30 in (76 cm) in the center. It holds approximately 6,750,000 U.S. gallons (25,600,000 liters) of water.

Why is DC sinking?

It's called subsidence, caused by natural changes in the earth's surface as the ice sheets melt and by groundwater withdrawal—pumping water out of wells. The rate of subsidence ranges around DC from about 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters per year. It's higher in the bay.