Hi Fellow Bloggers,
The National Mall is the central attraction of site seeing
in Washington DC, the capitol of the United States of America. The National
Mall is a vast amount of rectangular land, extending from the Washington
Monument to the U.S. Capitol Building.
The National Mall itself signifies the character and power
of the United States, as it is located in the nations capital. Furthermore, the
National Mall receives approximately 24 million visitors each year. In 1966,
the National Mall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
therefore encompassing a lot of American heritage and history. The purpose of
the national mall is to provide a monumental, symbolic and dignified setting
for the government structures located in the area. The maintenance of the national
mall with its public promenades and monuments is of utmost importance. It is
evident, through the presence of the Nations government buildings and
professionals, coupled with the Grand National monuments and emphasis on
preservation of the pristine mall, that the United States considers this an
important representation of their country’s identity.
In order to properly delineate the National Mall as a
signifier of the American identity, it is necessary to focus on one of the
monuments located in this expansive lawn complex. The monument chosen for this
blog post is the Washington Monument.
The Washington Monument is located near the center of a
cross formed by four of the United State’s most famous buildings; the U.S.
Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and the Jefferson Memorial. The
spatiality and layout of these monuments signifies the stateliness of the
United States in itself. By concentrating four monuments that identify history
and characterize the country in such a small area as well as the calculated
layout, the United States government succeeds in reproducing a sense of
dominance and patriotism.
Specifically with the Washington Monument, there are two
main elements that signify this monument as a key identifier of American heritage,
history and grandeur.
The first is the actual size and appearance of the monument.
It stands at 555 feet tall and is an obelisk shape. The height of this building
is an element of grandeur in itself, as it signifies the outstanding status of
the United States in which it is identified by around the world. A way in which
the monument is sure to remain a signifier of the country’s power and
prominence is the law that no other building in D.C. is allowed to be taller
than the monument.
The second element is the fact that the Washington Monument
commemorates George Washington. Remaining one of the country’s most admired and
respected leaders, the monument reflects his contributions to the development
of the United States. The designation of this monument as a representation of
history connects the monument to the longer traditions of the Western World. George
Washington had a vision of a great and powerful nation built on republican
lines using federal power. He aimed to use the national government to preserve
liberty, improve infrastructure, found a permanent capital, reduce regional
tensions and promote a spirit of American nationalism. These goals are those that
are resonated in much of the Western world. All the countries embody these
characteristics, which are signified through the erection of this monument. Not
only does this monument stand as a signifier of the strength of George Washington
and the United States, it represents the principles of all countries in the
Western world.
Thats all for now!
