10 Facts About the Washington Monument

Year Started: July 4, 1848

Year Completed: December 6, 1884 (Officially opened to the public: October 9, 1888)

Cost: $1,187,710

Designer: Robert Mills

Style: Neo-Egyptian

What is the height of the memorial? 555 feet 5 1/8 inches

Weight of the structure: 81,120 tons

Number of Blocks: 36,491

How many steps are in the memorial: 896

Number of Flags surrounding the building: 50, one representing each State.