Definitely a cool bit of history in Monument City! The Washington Monument is the first major monument dedicated to this country's first president. Inside the building, there is a little area with interactive screens explaining the history of the monument in Baltimore city. This is free to peruse. For a modest price, you can reserve a time to go up the tower portion of the monument. It is clearly old, with stone steps spiraling up clockwise until reaching an observation spot at the top. It is tight and you may have to wait in the odd window well while someone else goes up or down past you. There are four windows each labeled "North," "South," "East," and "West" with different vistas of the city. My kids are rather enjoyed it; even Child #3 climbed up over half the steps on his own at just shy of 2 years old. The surrounding area of "Mount Vernon Place" is covered with nice areas for sitting, looking at statues of contemporaries of George Washington (e.g. the Marquis de Lafayette). Highly recommend coming out during Flower Fest in early May! read more

This is a great monument and little detour walking around the wonderful city of Baltimore. We were on a walk and saw it peeking through one of the side streets and had to walk up and get a closer look. The pathway up the street was serene and there were a couple of statues along the way. The monument is surrounded by a roundabout and stands tall and proud smack in the middle of it. Great representation for the OG President! read more

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A beautiful historical site in the heart of the city. The various events/traditions make this monument special too--From The annual flower mart to the monument lighting. If there isn't an event, coming by to tour the area/inside the monument is an option. Something I'm still wanting to do! read more

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This was a great stop on our day trip to Baltimore. The ground level is free and has some signage about the history of the monument. We also paid the $6 to walk to the top of the monument (over 200 steps), and enjoyed the unique experience and view! Overall I highly recommend if you're in the area. read more

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Amazing statues, large park area if your in the area it's a must see will definitely go again read more

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What a beauty. I love statues and monuments. I love how this landmark is just not a beauty to look at, but I love how the city does events here. The fireworks over the monument is absolutely stunning. Check for events on the website and come check it out for yourself. read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Beautiful scenery. It was a gorgeous day and everyone was outside in the park enjoying the sun. The buds on the trees are starting to bloom as well. read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The first Washington Monument (over 50 years older than the one in DC) should be on everyone's to do list if you're in Baltimore. Located about a half mile North from the inner harbor, this part of the city (Mount Vernon) is beautiful and the square itself is a great spot for family photos. Beautiful architecture, cobble stone streets, a fountain and pretty urban landscaping surround the white marble monument to GW that stands at 178 feet 8 inches. It was $6 per adult, $4 for children to climb the 227 steps to the lookout level. My oldest son and I took our time going up and had a blast talking about the inside of the monument and our first president (he's a big fan). The views from up top in each direction are gorgeous. You can spend a good amount of time up top taking pictures and I would recommend giving yourself 20-40 mins to experience the entire monument. The Gallery area inside the bottom of the monument is free to check out and has a bust of George Washington, a bronze memorial centennial plaque and a bicentennial plaque. There are also some virtual tour touchscreens, plus camera feeds from the top. You can buy tickets online or walk in, but definitely include a stop to this over 200 year old monument to our first President! read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I always say this is the first place I had a happy memory in Baltimore. I love this piece of the city so much. It's the best in the spring when the magnolia trees and cherry blossoms are in bloom. The fountain area has been under renovation since 2020 (there's pieces of the stairwell that are broken). It's right by the Walter's Museum and the Peabody library. This part of the city always makes me feel like I'm in a smaller NYC. Nearby is also the new Hotel Ulysses and Sugarvale - a cute cocktail spot. I've actually never been in the monument but will have to do that soon! read more

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Very cool monument that I drive or walk past regularly. And it's always a good time at the monument lighting. I truly enjoy living in a city with so much physical history to appreciate. read more

A quick easy stop that I made after visiting the George Peabody library. It was a nice view and had some pretty park space on either side of it. I wouldn't go out of my way for it but if you're in the area it's worth seeing. read more

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This is one of my favorite areas in all of Baltimore city! The cobblestone streets, the gothic style church, the historic homes, and of course... the monument! I stopped by the annual monument lighting ceremony this year and was very happy I took the time to do so! Last year's ceremony was cancelled because of... well, you know, and this year's lighting was brought in with a bang (literally). The fireworks display was beautiful and was timed with a medley of holiday songs. While the view from the front of the monument was perfect and not overly crowded at all, I bet the view from a rooftop restaurant like Topside would be pretty spectacular - maybe next year! The lighting is celebrated by local businesses with many extending their hours into the night or offering great deals like all night happy hours. The lighting ceremony was set for 5pm-8pm but most of that time is filled with different performances. The lineup this year was really great from local artists and even the Morgan State choir. That said, if you're not prepared to sit around for 3 hours staring up at the sky, then I recommend arriving sometime between 7:30pm and 8pm. The stage area was very, very crowded so we stood off to the side. The lighting didn't actually occur until 8pm on the dot so I was glad we arrived later in the evening. Many people brought lawn chairs and their own refreshments because they knew they'd be waiting awhile. Pro tip: check out Mount Vernon Place by visiting the Walters Art Museum (it's free). The museum purchased the mansion a few years ago and created an addition which connects the main museum to the historic property. The inside is stunning and they've done a fairly good job at telling the story of the home and past residents. read more

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Very beautiful historical landmark. You can drive around it and take a walk around the neighborhood. This neighborhood is super cute and has a lot of cool little eateries in restaurants and bars for all your entertainment needs. Very walkable. Love the historical architecture here. read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

It was such a cool experience walking up to the top of the Washington Monument in Baltimore. We had no idea that this was the first Washington Monument. It only cost $6 to have access to walk up the stair case. The 200 steps are tiring but worth it! We enjoyed the view of the city from all directions. This was a fun little excursion. The whole experience took less than 20 mins. read more

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If you can walk up the narrow stairwell to get a view of the historic art in Baltimore. I walked up maybe one flight and became claustrophobic. Masks are required and food and drink are prohibited. Oh and the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable! read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I first visited this monument when you could climb to the top and walk outside on the vertigo-inducing balcony. That was a thrilling experience all the more so because it would have been too easy to accidentally fall off. After a $7 million renovation completed in 2015, you can still climb to the top but you can't access the balcony anymore. Yes, visitor, you have to be protected from yourself. (You also have to be protected from the pandemic so put this on your list of places to visit once this national nightmare is over.) read more

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Mount Vernon and the Washington monument are absolute must sees in Baltimore! It was such a thrilling experience to be able to walk up to the top of the monument. The views we're absolutely stunning and it was so cool you can see in every direction! Each direction of the monument had different statues and nice fountains in the different parks. Overall, make your way downtown! You wouldn't regret it. read more

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Not even a pandemic could keep us from following the tradition of lighting the Washington Monument in Mt. Vernon Square. I took pictures off the TV because I was impressed with the state-of-the-art lighting that was done. Tonight, we drove downtown to see it in-person. Unfortunately, they only had the streamers of lights illuminated; not the graphics on the monument. Even still, it was nice to see that this lovely tradition continues. read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Monument Lit for Christmas - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Cool monument in a beautiful area with a nice view at the top! This is the original Washington Monument, built before larger and better known one in DC. If you want to climb to the top check the hours beforehand as they are limited. The climb is not too difficult although the stairs are very narrow. The view is nice although nothing spectacular as a lot of the modern skyscrapers are much taller. It only costs $6 though so is definitely worthwhile. If you're here in the winter come here at night or for the annual Monument Lighting if possible. The evening of the lighting the streets are blocked off and there's a lot of food and drink stands. The monument is really beautiful when lit up in the winter. If it's not winter there's green spaces extending for a block in each direction of the monument which are nice for sitting and relaxing when the weather permits. read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

We saw this monument first at night and walked over to check it out. Turns out this was first monument for General and President Washington. We came back the next day and walked around the park and the fountains outside. This is a really beautiful area of the city. Inside the monument there are a lot of facts about Washington and the monument itself and its recent restoration and some touch screen displays. There is a $6.00 fee per person to climb the spiral staircase and check out the views from above. The curators were very helpful and friendly also. read more

What's great about the Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place? It's beautiful! The monument is such a beautiful sight, and the surrounding green space and statues of Mount Vernon Place are beautiful, too. What I didn't love? I'm not sure that climbing the monument is worth it. It's really tight, so they only let a few people in at a time (I waited about 10-15 minutes until the last group came down). Which makes sense, because there's no viewing platform at the top - you just kind of squeeze into four window areas (glassed in) to take in the views. I probably only spent 3 minutes up there before heading back down. There's also not much to read downstairs! I still don't know why this monument is here! But it was fun to take the walk up to the top (albeit a little sweaty on a steamy, hot day), and Mount Vernon Place has beautiful sights and views! read more

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The first monument to the original Commander in Chief, the first POTUS and the Father of Our Country. It's a super neat monument and the space around it is a lovely park with benches and shade and very limited parking. 178 feet tall and over 200 years old, this massive structure is open to be climbed (I wasn't feeling up to it) to enjoy some tremendous views from the summit. It's not the same as the big white marble monument on the National Mall, but I think this is way cooler. This is old school classic. I love it. read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Washington Monument in Baltimore MD - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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(ROTD 8/3/2017) Review #1,400 Bottom Line: The Washington Monument in Baltimore might not be the white obelisk monument that Americans picture in their head when they think of the Washington Monument but it is very worthy of a visit and climb to the top. I always like to save really special places for my milestone Yelp reviews and I decided that the Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Park is perfectly deserving for my 1,400th review. Three characteristics that make the Washington Monument in Baltimore noteworthy, in my opinion, are as follows: 1. First!: It was the first monument dedicated to George Washington. The people of Maryland were so moved to honor the famous General of the Continental Army and the first president of the United States that they assembled donations to fund this monument. The monument was started in 1815, 21 years before the Washington Monument in DC. It took 14 years to build the tower in Baltimore and it was completed 50+ years before the famous obelisk in DC. In 1829 Baltimore's monument to Washington was complete. 2. Famous Architect: The people of Maryland were serious about their Monument so they held a design competition and they selected one of the most famous architects in the country - Robert Mills. Upon selection Mills already had an impressive resume including being the architect for portions of Independence Hall in Philly and large buildings throughout Baltimore. Mills most famous works were designed after he did the Washington Monument in Baltimore and included the Washington Monument erected on the National Mall, the Treasury Building and the US Patent Office (now part of the Smithsonian). The surrounding four park squares received a facelift by an equally famous and pioneering landscape architect - Frederick Olmsted who designed outdoor spaces like NYC's Central Park and the U. S. Capital grounds. 3. Beautifully Restored: The Washington Monument has recently been fully restored and it looks amazing! Although I was not inside the monument before the restoration I saw pictures online and the stucco walls looked like they were made of stained paper mache that could just peel away. Now those same stucco walls are so clean and beautiful that they resemble marble. This is just one example of work performed during the renovation completed in 2015. So much work was done on the monument during the pre-bicentennial renovation. The exterior stairs were redone to increase structural support, the deteriorating iron fence was repaired and repainted, the brick in the tower was scrubbed clean, the cornerstone and time capsule were unearthed and refilled with new contents, all the lighting was upgraded, George's statue at the top got a bit of a facelift, etc. The end result is beautiful! Aside from being carefully restored, the original design of the monument is classy and elegant. One of my favorite elements of this 14-story building is the contrast of the rustic but clean brick against the polished marble serpentine staircase. I also like that this 200 year old monument is brought to life with very helpful interactive touch screen "tables" on the ground floor. The exhibits are informative and probably a good distraction for those that are afraid of heights and want to forgo the climb of 240+ stairs. Regarding the climb, I really enjoyed it. I kinda raced to the top but I should have really soaked in the character of the column. There are sweeping views from the top, as can be expected. The top of the tower has three glass windows and one iron gated window that lets a fresh breeze into the tower. The marble steps are fully lit so there is no need to be escorted by lantern light like those who first climbed the tower in 1920 had to be. Cheers to Baltimore City and the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy for spearheading the $5.5M restoration of this national treasure. read more

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First official monument dedicated to George Washington (even before the better known in DC). It's set in the middle of the Mount Vernon Cultural District, a neighborhood framed by beautiful buildings and heritage sites. Nice for a stroll, with most places of interest being museums and galleries. read more

Incredible structure in the heart of Baltimore. The gentlemen volunteering there taught us many interesting facts when I got down from climbing to the top. I wish the doors at the top could be open, but obviously for safety reasons they're chained and locked. read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Only 227 steps to the top of Baltimore's Washington Monument, which was completed in 1829 and predates the more famous monument in Washington, D.C. Both monuments were designed by architect Robert Mills. The Baltimore monument is located in the town's Mt. Vernon section and is within walking distance of the Walters Art Museum and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the oldest Catholic cathedral in the United States. Great views of Baltimore are visible from the top of the monument. Take your time going up. It's a lot of steps. read more

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Amazing spot. 1) It is the oldest monument dedicated to George Washington. 2) It costs a few bucks to go up the monument. 3) However, going inside it is free and personally I think it is good enough. Spending money to go up is not very worthwhile. read more

This big white marble statue is the first monument dedicated to George Washington. In stark contrast to downtown Baltimore, it's located in a really pleasant and clean neighborhood. The surrounding parks, the historic houses, and of course the Washington monument itself were all beautiful, well-kept, and amazing to see. The structure is open to be climbed inside but, after trekking over from the convention center in my work clothes, I didn't feel like climbing stairs. Even better was that this place was readily accessible by bus, which I gladly took back to downtown. read more

Well its free, what's there to complain about,. One thing that I find annoying is that it is not a true roundabout even though it looks like one. I saw people making lefts!! I was like "hey you its right only" and got only puzzled looks. Soon I realized its not a roundabout and just a circular road with red lights where you can make lefts. read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Nice to see the original/first monument for Washington! The surrounding park area is super nice and green as well! Inside has lots of fun facts about Washington and the monument itself. A lot about history of the monument, info ranging about architect/designer and materials used. Costs money to go up so didn't go, but I suppose there is a nice view up there. read more

Being a proud DC resident, I thought I'd find the Washington Monument lame compared to the one in our nation's capitol, but that wasn't the case. Yes, this one is smaller, but it's just as regal and it is the original Washington Monument. It's located in a cool part of town (Mt Vernon) and is very majestic. As you walk up to it, you'll pass by benches and beautiful fountains. The gothic church in the backdrop and the cobblestone streets around it, add to the mystique of the monument. It's worth visiting if you're in Baltimore! read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This is my personal favorite structure/building in all of Baltimore, maybe even on the east coast. After they finished the renovations this past spring (2015) they have reopened the entire monument to the public to enjoy for only $6.25 each visitor. I was able to take my girlfriend and her friend who was visiting us for free on August 28th! They have a grand reopening special where they are letting the general public walk the 200 some odd stairs to the top of the monument for free until just after Labor Day! The views from the top are wonderful - you will have a 360 degree slightly obstructed view of Baltimore from the top; however you will not be able to go outside once you finish the climb due to fire marshall restrictions. When you show up to tour, make sure you do not have more than 5 in your group (max allowed up at once) and be prepared to wait around an hour to take your 15/20 minute self guided tour to the top. Good thing there is the beautiful and shaded Washington Monument park at all four sides of the monument and the FREE Walters Art Museum to relax at while you are waiting for your turn to go up! I highly recommend checking out this amazing piece of Baltimore history; this is one of the most beatiful buildings around. read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Construction is over! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore's Washington Monument was the first one, and as far as I'm concerned it's the best one. It may not be as tall as the nondescript icon to the south, but it is one of our beautiful landmarks right here in downtown. Located in the center of a busy cobblestone traffic circle, crossing the street to get to it can be dicey at busy times of the day. Inside are the knowledgeable staff and gorgeous video displays detailing the monument's history and restoration. There is a fee to go upstairs where you can look outside, but you are no longer allowed on the balcony itself. It is amazing to think that Mount Vernon used to be Baltimore's countryside when the monument was fist built, but you can still get a sense of that by stepping into one of the pretty parklets that surround it on four sides. read more

What to say....... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Looks nice at night! Well lit and paet of an enjoyable walk down Charles St. read more

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On the first nice day of spring, my boyfriend and I decided to take advantage of the weather and finally use a Groupon we had for a tour for two. We were warmly greeted by a gentleman who gave us a brief history of the monument. The first floor is free to visit and has interactive maps and videos with more information about the monument. There's a $6 fee If you want to visit the top of the tower (but check Groupon!). A max of 5 people are allowed to climb to the top at a time, so you might have to wait for a few minutes for another party to come down. When we were told that there are 227 steps on the spiral staircase to the top, I thought "pshhh 227 steps...that's nothing." But I was completely out of breath by time I made it to the top! This was definitely my cardio for the day! There are signs along the way that tell you how far you've come (and how far you've got left to go). The top of the tower has four windows looking out to the park squares. It's a small space so we had to take turns with the others who were on the tour to see the view from the other windows. You're only allowed 20 minutes at the top, but that's plenty of time to catch your breath and take pics. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This is a gorgeous little park area with a water fountain and cobblestone streets. The Washington Monument is older than the one in D.C. It feels like a piece of Europe and one of the reasons why I love Mt Vernon...along with the flowers, history and live music. They packed the park for the last outdoor free concert of the summer. Why only during the summer months? Food trucks, BYOB and wine/beer booths. It can't get any better? Oh yes it can. We also just had the Book Fair. I know, it sounds nerdy but it's so much more than books. They spent a week setting up all the tents and bring in vendors for food booths, a wine and beer tent, samples with Muller yogurt and veggie burgers (both worth waiting in line for), and two stages with music along with free tours of the Centerstage. I heart this area. There's a reason why it's called the Cultural District. read more

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place - Fireworks show around the monument is awesome! And it's in this little neighborhood. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I think this area is a must-see when visiting Baltimore. The monument itself is really neat, and last weekend I climbed to the top for the first time and really enjoyed it. There are about 225 steps to the top, and it's a narrow and windey staircase to get up there. But the views are really neat and I think it was worth it. I also love the general area of the monument, lots of neat statues to look at, the church next door is beautiful, and the Peabody library is practically next door. The Walter's Art Museum is right there as well and is a wonderful place to visit. I think a trip to the monument is well worth it! read more

Came here with my wife to see the lighting of the monument. This was the first time we have attended this event. I was surprise to see all of the different venders that was there for this event. What made this event even better was the fact that they were serving hot coco. Me and my wife loved the fire works. I wish that this event could of lasted a little bit longer but mayor decided to shorten the event because of the protesters that showed up at the lighting of the monument. My wife was happy to see all of the Police Officers that was present for this event. One last thing me and my wife will be attending this event again. read more

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The monument of course is the first to General Washington. The monument is an iconic piece of the city and the surrounding little sitting parks abut the Peabody, historic churches and historic brownstones. In the winter of 2015 they have been renovating it and the coolest thing ever occurred. The discovery by workers of a hidden time capsule opened. Google it. Do visit. It's a great part of Mount Vernon. read more

Possibly the best single attraction in Baltimore. In addition to the cross shaped park, the spiral staircase to the top is so cool. The views are wonderful and the employee I met that day was funny and informative. read more

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