The Washington Monument

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!