Washington, DC Factoid
At 555 feet and 5 inches tall, the Washington Monument is the world's tallest masonry structure. The cornerstone was laid in 1848 with the same trowel that Washington himself used in 1793 to lay the Capitol's cornerstone. Opened to the public in 1888, it was at first only available to men – the 20-minute ride on the steam-operated elevator was considered too dangerous for women. Today, because of vandalism and the frequency of heart attacks, no one is allowed to climb the 898 steps to the top.
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Traveler Tools
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Sunday
Partly sunny. Cool.
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56/42 °F 14/6°C |
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Monday
Drizzle. Overcast. Cool. |
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50/44 °F 10/7°C |
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Tuesday
Sprinkles. Overcast. Cool. |
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54/46 °F 13/8°C |
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