Washington Monument, Washington D.C. (must see)

Rising near the center of the National Mall, this towering monument honors America’s first president with the kind of quiet confidence that does not need columns, statues, or dramatic poses — just a very large amount of stone and a skyline all to itself...

The idea for a monument to George Washington was discussed as early as 1783. Its design was finally approved in 1847, and it was much more ambitious than the clean obelisk we see today. The original plan called for the shaft to rise above a grand temple filled with artifacts honoring American presidents and national heroes. Eventually, that part was dropped, leaving the monument with its simpler, sharper silhouette.

The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848, during a Masonic ceremony. Even better, the same ceremonial trowel George Washington had used for the Capitol cornerstone was brought out for the occasion, because apparently historic tools also enjoy a good comeback...

Construction, however, was anything but smooth. Work slowed, funding became a headache, politics got involved, and the Civil War brought everything to a stop. Building resumed in 1880, and the capstone was finally placed on December 6, 1884. The result is a hollow stone shaft with an elevator to the top and a staircase of 897 steps, just in case anyone feels the need to earn their panorama the hard way...

Along that staircase are 188 carved commemorative stones, donated by states, cities, organizations, and foreign contributors. The original hope was that many of these stones would arrive with donations attached to help fund the construction. In several cases, the stones arrived, but the money did not. History, it seems, also has unpaid invoices...

Today, visitors come for the symbolism, the scale, and above all, the view. From the top, Washington, D.C., spreads out in grand geometric fashion, with the Mall, memorials, museums, and government buildings lining up like the city is posing for its official portrait.

Entry is free, but tickets are required for everyone going inside. One person can usually reserve up to six tickets for a party, and advance tickets are available for a small fee. So, plan ahead, choose your time, and go up if you can. In a city built on big ideas and bigger monuments, this is the one that lets you rise above it all—literally.