Located at the western end of the National Mall, the Washington Monument can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. In the summer, crowds usually form to take the one-minute elevator ride to the top, so tickets are required.  April – Labor Day you  can pick up the free tickets across the street from the monument starting at 7: 30 am.

The tallest masonry structure in the world, the top of the Washington Monument is a great place to view the city. One can see the Washington D.C. envisioned by one of the city’s first planners, Pierre L’Enfant who tried to create city filled with broad avenues, ceremonial circles and tree-lined streets.

The Washington Monument is a popular place with visitors to start their tours of the Mall, so saving it for the afternoon might not be a bad idea. The Monument is also one of the transfer points for the Tourmobile sightseeing tours, so you might wind up around the Washington Monument later in the day if you choose to take the highly popular tour.