Washington Landmarks
Below are 3 Washington landmarks that millions of people visit each year.
Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial sits at the west end of the National Mall. It was designed by Henry Bacon. It is surrounded by 38 columns, one for each state and two at the entrance. The is a figure of Lincoln that stands 19 feet high and weighs 175 tons. The memorial opened in 1922. This is where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument was built during the time period of 1848 to 1884 as a tribute to Washington's military leadership. The original architect was Robert Mills. The outbreak of the Civil War halted the progress on the monument. Lt. Col. Thomas L. Casey resumed work on the monument in 1876, but changed the design greatly. The monument was finished on February 21, 1885 and opened to the public on October 9, 1888. The monument stands 555 feet tall and is made of white marble and granite. 896 steps and an elevator take visitors to the top.
Arlington National Cemetery
The cemetery is located in Arlingtion Virginia. It is a military cemetery that is located on the Potomac River. It covers 624 acres. Veterans and military casualties are buried in this cenetery from the Civil War to the Iraq War. There are 70 sections in the cemetery with sections for specific wars.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is also at the cemetery. Unknown servicemen are buried here and it has been guarded around the clock since July 2, 1937.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is also at the cemetery. Unknown servicemen are buried here and it has been guarded around the clock since July 2, 1937.
