The Old Post Office Pavilion and Clock Tower
WASHINGTON
ELEVATED
By Jayne Clark
Getting high in Washington (and we mean
that strictly in the spatial sense) was never
easy, thanks to height restrictions on buildings
in the nation’s capital. At 555 feet, the
Washington Monument is the city’s tallest
structure and as such, has always been the go-
to spot for aerial views. Now, with the obelisk
closed until spring 2019 to correct chronic
elevator problems, that’s no longer an option.
But you can still view this magnificent city
from up high.
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 50 SUMMER 2017
WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
At 301 feet, the cathedral is the third tallest D.C. building,
but its perch atop 400-foot Mount St. Alban propels it
further skyward. The views from the Pilgrim Observation
Gallery in the two front towers of this imposing Gothic
structure are among the city’s finest.
The two ways to access the tower: Pay the $12 admission
($8 for children, seniors, students and active military),
which includes a cathedral tour, and you can take the
elevator to the observation gallery at your leisure.
Or, if you’re game, the cathedral intermittently offers
“tower climb” tours ($40 to $75 per person; private
tower climbs can be arranged for a minimum of five
people). The “classic” climb leads up 333 stairs to