That Pointy Thing in Washington D.C.: It's Not a Giant Pencil (Thank Goodness)
Ever looked at a picture of Washington D.C. and wondered, "Hey, what's that giant pointy thing sticking up in the middle of everything?" Well, my friend, you've stumbled upon the Washington Monument, and it's definitely not a misplaced office supply.
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| What is The Obelisk In Washington Dc |
A Monument to the First Dude (of the USA, that is)
The Washington Monument is a whopping 555-foot-tall obelisk that proudly honors George Washington, the very first president of the United States. That's right, they built this giant pointy thing to say "thanks" to the guy who helped get the whole "America" thing off the ground.
Think of it as a giant "Like" button for George Washington, but way more permanent (and way less likely to get you into a social media fight with your relatives).
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Why an Obelisk? Did They Run Out of Statue Ideas?
Actually, there's a reason they went with the pointy-shaped design. Obelisks were basically giant fingers pointing to the sky in ancient Egypt, and they were seen as symbols of the sun god Ra. The idea here is that the Washington Monument is reaching for the heavens, just like George Washington's achievements were, well, pretty darn heavenly (for America, at least).
Fun Facts That Will Make You Sound Smart at Parties (or at Least on Trivia Night)
- Construction on the Washington Monument wasn't exactly smooth sailing. They actually ran out of money halfway through, which is why the bottom part looks a little different from the top. It's like starting to write a novel and then giving up because you got hungry for pizza.
- For a brief period, the Washington Monument was the tallest building in the entire world. But then, you know, other countries decided they wanted to get in on the tall building thing too.
- You can actually climb to the top of the Washington Monument! But you'll need to snag a ticket beforehand, because everyone wants a bird's-eye view of D.C. from the pointy tip of history.
So You Want to be an Obelisk Expert? How To...
- How to get to the Washington Monument: It's smack dab in the center of the National Mall in Washington D.C. Just follow the pointy thing! (Seriously though, public transportation or biking are good options).
- How to climb to the top: Snag a free ticket online or by phone in advance. Space is limited, so be prepared to plan ahead.
- How tall is the Washington Monument: A cool 555 feet, 5 ⅛ inches (don't worry, you can round down to 555 feet at parties).
- How much did it cost to build the Washington Monument: They don't give out receipts for historical monuments, but let's just say it cost a whole lot of 19th-century dollars.
- How long did it take to build the Washington Monument: With a construction break in the middle, the whole project took about 36 years. That's a long time to build a pointy thing, but hey, good things come to those who wait (and have a lot of money).
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