Is the Washington Monument 666 Feet Tall?

No, the Washington Monument is not 666 feet tall. It is 554 feet 7 inches (or 169 meters) tall, a height often rounded up to 555 feet (169.2 meters).

This confusion often arises because the height 555 feet expressed in inches is 6660, which has led to some superstition surrounding the number 666. However, the construction team was likely unaware of this numerical coincidence, and the actual height is slightly less than 556 feet.

Superstitions about the number 666 have a very long history, and it’s improbable that the builder would have chosen this height for superstitious reasons. The monument was the tallest structure in the world from 1884 until 1889 when the Eiffel Tower in Paris was completed.

Why 555 Feet?

According to the National Park Service, the monument was measured to be 555 feet and 5-1/8 inches tall in 1884. More recent measurements made by the National Geodetic Service in 2013-2014 show the height to be 554 feet and 7-11/32 inches.

Entrance into the Washington Monument

Interestingly, there were two steps leading up to the entrance of the monument from the plaza around its base until 2013. These steps were removed as part of a restoration project to repair earthquake damage sustained in 2011. Now, the plaza is slightly elevated.

Conclusion: The Height is 555 Feet!

For practical purposes, you can simply say the Washington Monument is over 500 feet tall, 550 feet, or 555 feet. Whether you’re reporting on the monument for a historical article or a tourist guide, the common and acceptable answer is 555 feet. Avoid complicating your explanation with the intricacies of historical measurements unless absolutely necessary.

Now, just to add a bit more trivia, you might consider the total of numbers that add up to the same on a roulette wheel, which is also 66, another significant number in many cultures.