Washington Monument

We began our second day going up in the Washington Monument.  We were in the first group, so we only had to wait about 15 minutes in line.  It was a beautiful day and we had a great view.

World's tallest obelisk at 555 feet.  There are 897 steps to the top, but tourists must take the elevator.

Lincoln memorial viewed from the Washington Monument

 Construction on the monument began in 1848 but was discontinued due to the civil war and a shortage of funds.  When it resumed a different stone was quarried.  You can see the change in color midway up.

Jefferson Memorial and basin

Ellipse and White House

View toward Lincoln Memorial prior to WWII (? I think)

View toward Lincoln Memorial today. With WWII memorial in the foreground.

Looking up at the construction of the peak of the monument.

Capitol building and Smithsonian museums on the Mall.

The capstone is made of aluminum and was the largest piece of aluminum ever cast at the time.   It serves as an effective lightning rod and is linked to the ground through iron columns that support the elevator shaft are around ground in well water under the foundation.

The top was modified later to include these additional rods, which are sometimes replaced (see the older melted ones in the front).  

On our ride back down, the guide slowed the descent and activated (or de-actived) these gas filled panels in the doors of the elevator (argon filled?) allowing us to see some of the 193 commemorative stones in the interior walls.  Every state donated a stone as well as many different civic organizations.  The one from Alaska is solid jade.  Unfortuantely the elevator was moving slightly too fast to get any good pictures. The NPS has more info