D.C. in Photos: Washington Monument from All Angles

/ April 7, 2015

Everywhere you walk in Washington, D.C., there’s one monument that makes sure to make you feel welcome.

The powers placed the Washington Monument high atop a hill on the National Mall, in the center of America’s capital city.

Proudly.

Proudly.

From NationalParks.org:

“Built in honor of the United State’s first President, George Washington, this National Monument stands as the tallest structure in Washington, D.C. Shaped like an Egyptian obelisk, it is 555-feet, 5/8-inches high and made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss. It took 36 years to complete. From the top viewers enjoy 30 to 40 miles visibility in clear weather.”

On Easter Sunday, my dear wife Karen and I walked from our hotel at F and 7th to the base of this national beauty.

Boldly.

Boldly.

We hoped to take the elevator to the top, and saw no line waiting at the entrance house. Alas, the sentry stationed at the elevator entrance explained why to folks who got to him a moment ahead of us. Ticket-holders only. They’d sold out the day before, down in the building below, at the base of the hill. That’s the usual, he explained.

So we knew that our original premise would still hold. This trip to D.C. would investigate the outside of our monuments and museums.

Our disappointment was fleeting.

There’s so much to see. Another visit another year will be planned differently, to secure the tickets needed and plan the hours needed to go inside these magnificent places.

Still, there’s so much to admire right in front of us.

Breath-taking.

Majestically.

If I’m to pick one word to describe our time spent in Washington, D.C., from plane touching down at Reagan International on Friday afternoon to taking lift off for home here in Syracuse, N.Y. early Monday afternoon, it would be: Inspirational.

The people, the personality, the places, the significance of what’s been done and what can still be achieved, all came together to refresh me in a way that put a spring to my step and hope in my heart.

On this Sunday pleasantly in the mid-60s F, we continued on our way, around the Tidal Basin, where we encountered the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Memorials built to honor Jefferson, FDR and Martin Luther King Jr. And then we looped the Reflecting Pool — drained for construction improvements, but the sacred place nonetheless — for stops at those to pay tribute to the veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Photographs of all of those places will come as I continue my week of D.C. themes, hopefully bringing those of you who have not had a chance to visit America’s capital and maybe even those who have the opportunity to see things you’ll appreciate anew from the eye of my iPhone 6.

First, though, here’s one more full bite of the Washington Monument, as seen from across the gate from the back of the White House.

President Obama's view.

President Obama’s view.

Now, a gallery of Washington Monument photographs I took from many different vantage points throughout the city. Enjoy the different backdrops and reveals.

The Monument welcomes incoming planes, too.
The sun sets on D.C. and her guardian.
Watching over the Vietnam Memorial’s Wall of memories.
Hungry for the view.
One of the Smithsonians offers a clear shot.
Paddle around the majesty.
Cones instead of water in the Reflecting Pool.
A bridge still to cross.
Looking down from the Lincoln Memorial.
From Constitution and Pennylvania.
Even from the plane before departure.

Click on any photo for its description. Click on the bottom right photo for an enlarged slide show.

Coming tomorrow: Our Significant Leaders

See Thursday: Cherry Blossom Festival

Have you ever been to the Washington Monument, and if so, what’s your memory of it? If you haven’t been, is the scene different from what you imagined, and if so, why? What’s your favorite photo, and why?

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65 thoughts on “D.C. in Photos: Washington Monument from All Angles”

  2. Inspirational is the word, Mark, and you capture it so well. Your photos are fantastic, and it isn’t easy to take pics of monuments! My strongest memory of DC is the Vietnam Memorial. I was newly married when Dave and I walked together, each step being engulfed ever so effortlessly. At first we were a bit distracted, probably chatting, but each step brought us closer to grim reality. I eventually became so overwhelmed that I wept. I wasn’t alone in my tears.

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  4. I was 10 on my only visit and JFK was president. We saw the monument during the day although I don’t think we were able to go in. But my big memory is of being on the lawn nearby on the evening of July 4 to see the fireworks. Wow. Still the best one I’ve ever seen in person. Although the Quatorze Juillet celebration in Paris –also MANY years ago– would be a close second…

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  7. What a great collection MBM. You wouldn’t think there would be so many ways to get one item in the same picture and have such a variety. WELL DONE! You’re making the capital look very charming and tempting! And aren’t you glad you aren’t there during the electrical outage!

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  8. it is a magnificent place, filled with history and adventure. when we were little, we went on a family trip there and challenged my parents to a stairs vs. elevator challenge in the washington monument. thought we were really clever )

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  9. The photo montage of the monument was stupendous and hope you continue to have a wonderful time, Mark. This was such a great post with new insights. It is like seeing things in a new light!

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  11. The first time I went to DC was in 1968. I walked up the monument. When you’re a kid you do things like that. Later that night I saw a performance of Romeo and Juliet at the foot of the monument. The first time is almost always the best.

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  15. DC was fascinating. We loved the museums. But my only issue with it was navigating the roads. My mother and I went round and round just trying to get a good look at the monuments. They need (or maybe we missed it) options for older and/or disabled people who can’t walk long distances. Had something been in place for that, then I think our trip there would have been much more enjoyable. With all that said, your photos are great! Thank you for sharing them.

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    • I can understand the frustrations for less mobile folks, Me Who. I did notice a lot of people taking big open tour buses. I don’t know if that would have worked for you and your mom when you where there, or even if they were available. They seemed to pull up as close as possible to the monuments.

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    • Oh, also, I wanted to mention that a potential Fight of the Year candidate – Ruslan Provodnikov vs. Lucas Matthysse – is happening in Verona, New York on April 18th. Any chance you’ll be making a jaunt over there? Mark S. and I were both considering it, but as soon as I realized that it would interfere with my exam schedule, we both pulled out. Not sure if you’re a fight fan, but it should be quite the bout!

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      • That’s just 25 miles from our house, Dave. My stepson works at Turning Stone, too, as a croupier. Thursday I’m going with my two buddies to hit golf balls in the indoor dome range. So I wish that you and Mark S were coming, and I’d join you two in a heartbeat. I’ll consider going in your stead, at your recommendation.

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      • I wish I were going too… it’s just that I’ve already lost an entire weekend during my “Endocrine, Reproduction and Metabolism” block in Cabo San Lucas for a friend’s bachelor’s party. I’m not sure if you’ve ever been to a live boxing event before, but I think at this one, you won’t be disappointed. They’re both aggressive, heavy puncher-types… it should be a lot of action, and a lot of people expect a Fight of the Year type bout – Mark S and I included!

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      • Wow, that’s awesome! I would have loved to have seen a prime, undefeated Sugar Ray Leonard! Not sure if you know, but I had a brief stint as a boxing journalist for Bleacher Report back in the day – my claims to fame were writing a “100 greatest fighters” article that got 200k hits, and covering Pacquiao-Margarito from ringside in Dallas. Then my pre-med studies got in the way and I haven’t written about boxing for quite a few years now. Still like to follow the sport though! I’m super envious of your Sugar Ray Leonard experience, though!

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      • Way to go with the 200 K hits on your Bleacher Report story, Dave. That’s impressive for a boxing report in our era.

        The little daily paper I worked in Maryland from 1979 to 1983 was in Sugar Ray Leonard’s home Prince George’s County, so I got to see him work out in the gym, too. That Davey Boy Green fight, our veteran boxing writer introduced me to the British boxer’s father before the fight. My boxing reporter had given me a cigar, said I had to smoke it at ringside during the fight to fit in. It was in my suit jacket pocket, and Davey Boy Green’s father saw it and asked me if he could have it, and I gladly gifted it to him instead.

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  19. Yep, never been to D.C. As for your trip, live and learn, although it seems like you had a good time anyway. I really like the one where the monument is framed by the two flags but also like the ones where it’s way in the distance with the orange cones in the foreground. Just a bit avant garde.

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    • Yes, so many people told us to do this, do that, do this, and we ended up just doing our own thing, Marissa. Which is the way we tend to be. So that included learning that the monument and other tickets need to be secured ahead of time. We’ll be back, though, we loved it so much. And thank you very much for calling my orange cone shot avant garde! Yahoo!

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  20. I don’t know if you can still do it, but back in the day, you could actually walk the steps up to the top, rather than taking the elevator. I think there are around 900 steps to the top and, when I was younger and fitter, I used to take those steps. It took a while, but it was fun. I don’t think I could do it anymore, though.

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  21. Wonderful photos, Mr. B! I share your feeling of inspiration when in DC. I have been there numerous times and it never gets old. Each and every time it is as magical as the last. Let me go email you that pic of my Mama as Cherry Blossom Queen. 🙂

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  22. Nice photos! Last time I was there, there was scaffolding around the Washington Monument (repairs to damage caused by earthquake, I believe). Glad to see work has been completed. I’m interested to hear your thoughts and see your photos on the Korean War memorial. … And brucepegg, if that’s your first MCM, there is nothing like running along the National Mall and passing in front of the Capitol. Especially at that point in the race.

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    • Jim–yes, this will be my first MCM and the largest marathon I have participated in to date. I cannot wait to be inspired and awed by the occasion, and I will be blogging about it–from the first training run in July to (hopefully) the hanging of the medal around my neck. (Hope Mark doesn’t mind this shameless plug for my own blog on his page LOL!)

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      • Best of luck to you! Ran it in 2012 (Hurricane Sandy) and it was an unforgettable experience. I recommend staying in Crystal City and taking Metro to the start. Worked well, although the line for the Metro at the finish was a bit long (made longer by a phone call canceling my flight home the next day!) Still a great and awe-inspiring event.

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  23. sorry you didn’t get to ride the elevator Mark. 🙂 Love that you took us along on your trip though and love all the views of the monument from different vantage points. ❤
    Diana xo

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    • Thanks, Diana. The NIght Falls shot that you like I took on Friday night, our first there, before we met friend Carolyn for dinner, as we walked around our hotel. It soon became evident to me that we would see the Washington Monument every walk we’d take!

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  24. Mark–your pictures have really whetted my appetite for the Marine Corps Marathon in October. I get to run 26.2 miles around DC and pass many of these places along the way! Thanks for sharing.

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  25. I was a kid when I went the first time, and I remember being surprised at how big the obelisk was, and also that it was made of bricks. In my head, I thought it was one long concrete thing, plopped down by a crane, lol — I was awed, to say the least.
    Great pics!

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