Washington Monument opens to the public

Background. The Washington Monument is a 555-foot (169 m) obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, the nation's first president. The stone structure was completed in 1884, and the monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885. The internal ironwork, the knoll, and the installation of memorial stones were finished in 1888, the year the monument opened to the public.

Opening to the Public. The monument opened to the public on October 9, 1888. This followed the completion of internal ironwork, the knoll, and installation of memorial stones in 1888. The elevator used for construction materials was altered to carry passengers, causing visitor numbers to grow rapidly. By 1888, an average of 55,000 people per month visited the top.

Historical Context. The monument was the world's tallest structure between 1884 and 1889, after which it was overtaken by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Its completion had been blocked for much of the 19th century by political squabbling and the American Civil War, and construction was suspended from 1854 to 1877 due to funding challenges, a struggle for control over the Washington National Monument Society, and the war. The total cost from 1848 to 1888 was $1,409,500.