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Located at The Mall at 15th Street NW, this monolith is the tallest masonry structure in the world and an icon of Washington life. The rewards for taking the 70-second trip to the top are immense, with stunning, panoramic views of the entire city as well as Maryland and Virginia. The sights most worth noting are the Tidal Basin, the White House, the US Capitol, the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials, the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. An observation deck at a dizzy height of 152m above ground was opened in 2002. At weekends there are guided tours which include descending the impressive 898 steps. Along the way there are numerous plaques which were donated during construction from various sources, including states, masonic lodges, church groups and foreign countries. The idea to erect the monument originated in 1783 but the first cornerstone of Robert Mills' design was not laid until 1848. Work was then halted by the Civil War and did not resume until 1876.If you look closely, you can see the different shade in marble color at about 150ft. The monument is open to the general public from April to Labor Day at 8am-midnight and from Labor Day to March at 9am to 5pm. Admission is free and timed tickets can be obtained daily at the site or from Ticketmaster. |