https://www.nps.gov/wamo News releases from Washington Monument. en-us https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/cherry-blossoms-announcement-march-2026.htm Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:11:00 EST The Department of the Interior and National Park Service today announced that peak bloom for the iconic cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin and National Mall is projected to occur between March 29 – April 1, with exact timing dependent on weather conditions. Once peak bloom begins, the blossoms typically remain on the trees for seven to 10 days. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/cherry-blossoms-announcement-march-2026.htm https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/transportationservicescontract.htm Tue, 06 Jan 2026 06:13:00 EST The National Park Service has selected City Sightseeing Washington DC, Inc., dba Big Bus Tours, to provide interpretive transportation services at National Mall and Memorial Parks for the next ten years. https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/transportationservicescontract.htm https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/news/national-park-tourism-in-washington-d-c-contributes-1-14-billion-to-d-c-economy.htm Mon, 21 Aug 2023 08:30:00 EST A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 39,440,786 visitors to national parks in Washington, D.C., spent $973,000,000 in D.C. in 2022. That spending resulted in 9,140 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to D.C.’s economy of $1,144,400,000. https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/news/national-park-tourism-in-washington-d-c-contributes-1-14-billion-to-d-c-economy.htm https://www.nps.gov/subjects/uspp/vandalism-arrest-washington-monument.htm Wed, 21 Sep 2022 03:50:00 EST On Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m., the United States Park Police (USPP) arrested Shaun Ray Deaton, 44, of Bloomington, Ind., for allegedly vandalizing the outside base of the Washington Monument with paint. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/uspp/vandalism-arrest-washington-monument.htm https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/national-park-tourism-in-d-c-creates-679-million-in-economic-benefit.htm Mon, 27 Jun 2022 05:27:00 EST A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 28,599,634 visitors to national parks in the District of Columbia spent $600,600,000 in 2021. That spending resulted in 5,293 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the District’s economy of $679,400,000.  https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/national-park-tourism-in-d-c-creates-679-million-in-economic-benefit.htm https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/wamoopen0721.htm Mon, 12 Jul 2021 07:44:00 EST The Washington Monument will reopen to the public on Wednesday, July 14 at 9 a.m. after a six-month closure. The monument will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks are required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, inside the Washington Monument. https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/wamoopen0721.htm https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/wamoclosed.htm Sat, 23 Jan 2021 12:37:00 EST The National Park Service announced today that the Washington Monument will close until further notice as a measure to protect staff and visitors from the spread of COVID-19. The monument closed on January 11 for security reasons surrounding the 59th presidential inauguration. https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/wamoclosed.htm https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/wamoclosed.htm Sat, 23 Jan 2021 11:45:00 EST The National Park Service announced today that the Washington Monument will close until further notice as a measure to protect staff and visitors from the spread of COVID-19. The monument closed on January 11 for security reasons surrounding the 59th presidential inauguration. https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/wamoclosed.htm https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/wamoreopen2.htm Mon, 28 Sep 2020 08:33:00 EST The Washington Monument will reopen to the public on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 9 a.m. after a six-month closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The monument will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a new set of safety and cleaning procedures to keep staff and visitors safe from the spread of infectious diseases. Tickets will be available online starting Sept. 30. https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/wamoreopen2.htm https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/explore-dc-s-national-parks-with-a-new-free-app.htm Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:20:00 EST Heading to a Washington, DC, national park this Labor Day weekend? Download the free DC Area National Parks App in the Apple and Google Play stores to find, explore and learn about parks in the Washington, DC, area. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/explore-dc-s-national-parks-with-a-new-free-app.htm https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/national-capital-area-parks-are-modifying-operations-to-implement-local-health-guidance.htm Sat, 28 Mar 2020 09:09:00 EST In response to public health guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state health departments in Virginia and Maryland and in the District of Columbia, and local health departments in the counties of Alexandria, Va., Allegheny, Md., Arlington, Va., Fairfax, Va., Frederick, Md., Jefferson, W.Va., Loudon, Va., Montgomery, Md., Prince George, Md., Prince William, Va., and Washington, Md., the National Park Service (NPS) has implemented additional facility closures to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).   https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/national-capital-area-parks-are-modifying-operations-to-implement-local-health-guidance.htm https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/national-parks-in-the-national-capital-area-modify-operations-to-implement-latest-health-guidance.htm Fri, 20 Mar 2020 09:47:00 EST WASHINGTON – National parks in the greater Washington area are modifying their operations to promote social distancing and implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/national-parks-in-the-national-capital-area-modify-operations-to-implement-latest-health-guidance.htm https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/wamoopen.htm Mon, 15 Apr 2019 05:02:00 EST Due to delays in the construction of the new visitor screening facility, the Washington Monument reopening has been delayed until August 2019. https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/wamoopen.htm https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/washington-monument-reopening-ceremony.htm Tue, 29 Apr 2014 09:55:00 EST The National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall today announced that Al Roker, the TODAY show’s weather anchor and author, will join Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, and philanthropist David Rubenstein, and National Mall & Memorial Parks Superintendent Bob Vogel at the upcoming celebration of the reopening of the Washington Monument on May 12. https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/washington-monument-reopening-ceremony.htm https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/nps-awards-contract-to-repair-earthquake-damaged-washington-monument.htm Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:25:00 EST The National Park Service (NPS) has awarded a contract to Perini Management Services, Inc. of Framingham, Massachusetts to repair damage to the Washington Monument caused by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the Washington D.C. area in August of 2011. https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/nps-awards-contract-to-repair-earthquake-damaged-washington-monument.htm https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/philanthropist-donates-7-million-dollars-to-repair-washington-monument.htm Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:30:00 EST Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes, National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, and Trust for the National Mall President Caroline Cunningham today announced a $7.5 million donation from philanthropist David M. Rubenstein to repair damage to the Washington Monument caused by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake last August. https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/philanthropist-donates-7-million-dollars-to-repair-washington-monument.htm https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/establishment-of-daily-briefing-schedule.htm Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:52:00 EST Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, the National Park Service (NPS) will hold a 9:00 a.m. daily briefing to update reporters on the work being done by the team that is assessing the exterior of the Washington Monument. https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/establishment-of-daily-briefing-schedule.htm https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/september-26th-press-conference.htm Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:29:00 EST National Park Service Press Conference to Provide Update on Earthquake Damage at Washington Monument https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/september-26th-press-conference.htm https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/washington-monument-inspection-finds-additional-cracks.htm Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:32:00 EST The National Park Service (NPS) has engaged an engineering firm with extensive experience in earthquake damage assessment and repair to further assess the Monument after an inspection today uncovered additional cracks in the pyramidion, or uppermost section of the structure. https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/washington-monument-inspection-finds-additional-cracks.htm https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/temporarily-closes-washington-monument-reopens-jefferson-lincoln-memorials.htm Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:28:00 EST National Park Service Temporarily Closes Washington Monument; Reopens Jefferson, Lincoln Memorials https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/news/temporarily-closes-washington-monument-reopens-jefferson-lincoln-memorials.htm