The Washington Monument is the most prominent structure in Washington, D.C. and one of the city’s early attractions. It was built in honor of George Washington, who led the country to independence and then became its first President. The Monument is shaped like an Egyptian obelisk, stands 555′ 5 1/8″ tall, and offers views in excess of thirty miles, it has 897 steps in the stairwell and a elevator was install in 1998, the travel time to the top 70 seconds. The monument was finished on December 6, 1884. It is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall.