A diamond bracelet slid across Vickie McLoren’s wrist as she pulled back the curtain, revealing the Washington Monument a few blocks away. Glorious. One of the most recognizable landmarks in the United States is a tribute to the country’s first president. The 500-foot-tall monument in the center of the National Mall is shaped like an Egyptian obelisk. Construction began in 1888 and was finished 40 years later. Surrounding the Washington Monument are 50 United States flags.
