Washington Monument Facts for Kids

A Picture of the Washington Monument
  • Name: Washington Monument
  • Location: Washington D.C., USA
  • Address: 2 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20024
  • Building Type: White Marble Monument
  • Dedicated to: George Washington
  • Built: Between 1848 and 1854
  • Annual Visitors: 25 million (National Mall)

25 Washington Monument Facts for Kids

  1. The Washington Monument is a white obelisk monument that commemorates George Washington.
  2. George Washington was one of the founding fathers of the United States, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and the first United States president.
  3. The Washington Monument was designed by American architect Robert Mills.
  4. The address for the Washington Monument is 2 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20024.
  5. According to the National Park Service, more than 25 million people visit the National Mall every year. The Washington Monument is in the National Mall.
  6. Construction of the Washington Monument started in 1848.
  7. Construction of the Washington Monument wasn’t completed until December 6th, 1884.
  8. Construction of the Washington Monument was hindered by a lack of available funds, a struggle for control within the Washington National Monument Society and the outbreak of the American Civil War.
  9. The Washington Monument was dedicated to George Washington on February 21st, 1885.
  10. The Washington Monument opened to the public on October 9th, 1888.
  11. The Washington Monument cornerstone was laid on July 4th, 1948.
  12. The cornerstone of the Washington Monument is a marble block that weighs 24,500 pounds.
  13. The cornerstone of the Washington Monument is 6.5 square feet on each side and 2.5 feet high.
  14. The cornerstone has a zinc core that was used to fill with memorabilia. The core was sealed with a copper plate and bares the date of the Declaration of Independence.
  15. It’s estimated that the Washington Monument weights around 100,000 tons.
  16. The obelisk of the Washington Monument is 500 feet tall.
  17. The pyramidion on the top of the Washington Monument is 55 feet tall.
  18. The Washington Monument reaches a total height of 555 feet.
  19. The Washington Monument is the tallest obelisk in the world.
  20. The Washington Monument is the tallest manmade, predominantly stone structure in the world.
  21. The Washington Monument was the tallest manmade structure in the world between 1884 and 1889. The throne for the tallest building was taken from the Washington Monument by the Eiffel Tower.
  22. The Washington Monument has a staircase with 896 steps that lead to the top.
  23. Fifty United States flags circle the Washington Monument, one for each U.S. State.
  24. As of July 4th, 1971, the 50 United States flags are flown 24 hours a day. Prior to that date, they were removed at dusk and stored overnight.
  25. On August 23rd, 2011 the 5.8 magnitude Virginia earthquake damaged the Washington Monument. The earthquake caused more than 150 cracks. The Washington Monument was closed by the National Park Service and wouldn’t reopen to the public until May 12th, 2014.

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