You may want to arrive early because the tickets are given on a first come, first served basis. The Washington Monument stands 555 feet tall. It has 897 steps which are closed to the public except for ranger-led tours which are available. You don't want to miss the 70 second elevator trip up to the 500 foot landing for a spectacular view of the city. Free tickets are available for a timed entrance at the ticket kiosk located at 15th Street at the base of the monument.
Visitation can be heavy and ticket lines can be long.
There is also a parking lot on Constitution Avenue. Ford's Theater National Historic Site Ford's Theater is located at 511 10th Street NW, between E and F Streets. Recommended time for a visit is 45 minutes. This is the world's sixth largest gothic cathedral. Woodrow Wilson and Helen Keller are buried here.