Uploaded by bootbearwdc to the Metroblogging Washington D.C. flickr pool

As we all learned (I think) at the Feb. 13 Trivia Fight, the Washington Monument was opened to the public in 1888. However, it was this day in 1885 that it was formally dedicated, a day before what would have been the first president’s 116th birthday. This was nearly forty years after the cornerstone had been laid on July 4, 1848.

According to the National Park Service’s official monument Web site, the monument is open to the public again, but you have to get a ticket. It is probably too late for today, because the tickets run out early, but you can get them in advance for another time.