Centered on The Mall and visible from most locations in Washington, D.C., the Washington Monument is one of the more-recognizable landmarks in the world. It's America's Big Ben, Eiffel Tower or Parthenon.

The Washington National Monument Society began raising funds for construction of a monument in 1833, and architect Robert Mills was hired to design a great column with a mezzanine at its base.

It was intended that there would be heroic statues of Washington and other Revolutionary War figures and founding fathers on the mezzanine, but financial considerations caused that idea to be abandoned.

On July 4, 1848, the first cornerstone was laid using the same trowel that was used by Washington at the U.S. Capitol's cornerstone laying.

In 1854, members of the Know-Nothing Party gained control of the Washington National Monument Society, and private contributions came to a halt, effectively stopping construction for almost 25 years.

In 1876, frustrated that the monument was still incomplete during the U.S. Centennial birthday, the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant got the society to donate the project to the people of the United States, allowing Congress to appropriate public funding for the monument's completion.

Construction was resumed in 1878 under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The monument's exterior was completed in 1884, and dedication followed Feb. 21, 1885, by President Chester A. Arthur.

On Oct. 9, 1888, the Washington Monument was opened to the public and was at that time the tallest man-made structure in the world.

Standing 555 feet, 5 1/8 inches high, the monument has an iron stairway with 8,971 steps and 50 landings. The stairwell walls contain 193 memorial stones honoring Washington -- all donated as gifts of the 50 states, foreign governments, organizations, cities and individuals.

An elevator takes visitors on a 70-second trip up to the 500-foot landing for views of the city. A bronze replica of the Jean Antoine Houdon statue of George Washington is in the waiting room.

The Washington Monument is open April to September from 8 a.m. until 11:45 p.m., and from 9 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. the rest of the year. Free tickets for timed entrance are available at the ticket kiosk on 15th Street at the base of the monument, and advance tickets are available for a service charge through Ticketmaster of Washington, D.C.