The Washington Memorial

Being noted as the tallest obelisk, the tallest stone structure, and the tallest monument column in the world, the Washington Memorial stands proudly to the east side of the National Mall in Washington, DC to honor George Washington. Construction started in 1848, but it halted several times due to lack of funds, a struggle within the Washington National Monument Society, and the Civil War. The finishing touches didn't come until 1888.

Built of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, it measures 555 feet tall. Architect Robert Mills planned the design, but he simplified his original idea and just went with the obelisk. Although the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885, it didn't officially open until October 9, 1888. At that time it still held the title of the tallest structure in the world, but that changed with the completion of the Eiffel Tower in 1889.

If you want to climb to the top, you'll ascend and descend 897 steps. You'll need a ticket to tour the landmark, and to reserve a ticket there's a small cost. During busy times, you may still have to wait in line. Around 800,000 visit the memorial each year.

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