What is the meaning of the Washington Monument?

After the completion of the iron staircase in the monument's interior, the Washington Monument was first accessible to the public in 1886, closed much of 1887 until it could be better protected from vandals, and reopened in 1888 with a public elevator. read more

The Washington Monument is a structure called an obelisk, measuring 555 feet and 5 1/8 inches high. According to Wikipedia, an obelisk is: “A tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top. read more

Plans for the monument began even before Washington was elected president. In 1783, the Continental Congress voted to erect a statue of Washington, commander-in-chief of the American army during the Revolutionary War, in the nation’s yet-to-be constructed permanent capital city. read more