Blind / Low Vision

Path to the Monument

The path to the monument is smooth and paved. Some pathways leading to the monument have retractable bollards at the base of the hill. There is a slight increase in steepness as visitors walk from parking to the monument. There are benches with no back or arm rests for visitors to sit located directly outside of the monument.

Entrance

• Visitors must wait in a line outside of the entrance door until rangers direct the group inside.
• Rangers will open and hold the automated door for visitors.
• Visitors enter and turn left to go through security.
• After security, a ranger will direct the group through an automatic door that will be held open for them.
• After visitors have entered through the secure door, a ranger will direct the group through a passageway to the elevator entrance. The passageway has benches with no armrests.

Elevator

• There are usually around 14-18 people that take the 70-second ride up the elevator to the observation level together. On the elevator ride up, there is a video with sound of a ranger in uniform discussing the history and importance of the Washington Monument, illustrated with pictures on the screen.

• On 2 minute and 20 second elevator ride down, the lights turn off twice and a voice refers visitors outward where stone artifacts on the interior surface of the monument are displayed.

Observation Level (500 feet above the ground)

Once visitors arrive at the observation level, there are eight areas to observe Washington, DC through windows. One window on each side of the level has a step for children to see out and some window areas have handrails under the window. The walkway around the observation level is narrow and can get crowded, making maneuvering difficult.

Exhibit Level (490 feet above the ground)

When finished on the observation level, there are two separate staircases to choose from to descend to the exhibit level.

Staircases have handrails and tactile flooring to indicate the next step.

For visitors unable to take the stairs, the ranger on duty will take them down to the exhibit level on the elevator.

On the exhibit level, there are many tactile exhibits of the monument, including the original design, the inside material, commemorative stones on the interior walls of the monument, and more.

The level can get crowded, making it difficult to maneuver around. The level has a bench that is about 50 inches long and 20 inches wide. When finished on the exhibit level, visitors take the elevator down to the ground level. At the ground level, visitors must navigate through an automated door that will be held open to exit.

Braille

There is a braille version of the Washington Monument brochure. Please ask the rangers at the monument for a copy or contact the National Park Service at 202-426-6841 in advance of your visit. You can also download the Braille Ready File (.brf) of the brochure. There are no large texts publications of the Washington Monument.

Window areas on the observation level each have a map with braille and tactile elements for visitors to understand the locations of sites in the city. Additionally, the maps contain miniature tactile versions of the monuments and memorials on the National Mall. There are informative signs with braille on either side of the elevator wall on the observation level. On the exhibit level, there is an exhibit of Senator John Sherman’s quote with braille.

Washington Monument Lodge

• The Washington Monument Lodge is a small souvenir store where tickets to the monument are distributed. It is located on 15th Street, on the east side of the monument. The pathway to the lodge is smooth and well-maintained. Facing the entrance, a water fountain with two basins sits off to the right.
• The check-out counter is about 8 feet inside the building from the entrance.
• The ticket booth window is located outside on the back side of the lodge facing the monument.
• Restrooms are split into gender and are located on either side of the lodge. They must be accessed from the outside.