Washington Monument illuminated on New Year’s Eve to mark country’s 250th
A gigantic birthday candle was projected onto the Washington Monument this New Year’s Eve as fireworks dazzled the night sky, part of a six-day art installation to salute the country’s upcoming celebration of its 250th year.
The light displays — free and open to the public, with viewing available throughout the National Mall — will run nightly through Monday with projections depicting “the story of America’s journey,” according to organizers at Freedom 250, a group unveiled by President Donald Trump in December to help carry out his vision for “the most spectacular birthday the world has ever seen.”
The monument has hosted a projection show only once before, when it was illuminated in 2019 with a rocket commissioned by the National Air and Space Museum to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The New Year’s Eve light show was set to end just after midnight. On subsequent nights, projections will run from 7 to 10 p.m., transforming the monument into a colorful canvas of sorts. No tickets are required.
“The illumination of the Washington Monument marks the beginning of a momentous year for our nation — 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence,” Keith Krach, the CEO of Freedom 250 who served as a senior State Department official during Trump’s first term, said in a statement. “We invite every American — and every friend of America — to join this historic celebration of the triumph of the American spirit.”
