How tall is the Washington Monument, excluding its underground foundation?

The Washington Monument is 555 feet 5 1/8 inches tall, excluding its underground foundation.

The obelisk in Washington, D.C., honors George Washington, the first president of the United States. Its height was selected to make it the world’s tallest building when construction was completed in 1884, a distinction it held until the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris in 1889.

Construction began in 1848 but was interrupted for more than two decades by political disputes, financial problems, and the Civil War. The monument’s lower section uses marble from one quarry, while the upper section uses stone from another source, creating a visible change in shading.

The structure was dedicated on February 21, 1885, one day before Washington’s birthday, and opened to the public in 1888. Its exact height is often rounded to 555 feet, but the full measurement includes the additional five and one-eighth inches. The monument remains one of the most recognizable symbols of the U.S. capital.