7) Washington Monument, Washington D.C.
Built as a celebration of the life of our first president, George Washington, it’s come to be recognized as a symbol of America. It’s as famous as other iconic structures around the world, such as the Great Pyramids and the Taj Mahal. Its original purpose was to be the centerpiece of our nation’s capital – a symbol of the state of the union. It took forty years to build. In 1884 the completed obelisk was unveiled, containing 36,000 blocks, and standing 555 feet tall. In 2011, a rare Virginia earthquake caused damage to the structure. Although it’s been structurally repaired, the National Park Service closed it to visitors in 2016 due to issues with the elevator. Plans to reopen are set for 2019. In the meantime, visitors still flock to take photos of this awe inspiring historic monument.
