3 facts
Completed in 1884, the Washington Monument stands 555 feet (169 meters) tall and was the tallest man-made structure in the world until the Eiffel Tower surpassed it in 1889. It took 36 years to build due to funding shortages and the Civil War — which is why a careful look at the obelisk reveals a subtle color change about one-third of the way up, where construction resumed after a long pause.
The Smithsonian Institution alone operates 19 museums and galleries in Washington D.C., and every single one is free to enter. The city is home to the National Archives, Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art, and dozens of other world-class institutions — making it one of the most museum-dense capitals on the planet.
Before entering politics, Hitler dreamed of becoming a professional artist. He applied to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts in 1907 and was rejected; he applied again in 1908 and was rejected a second time. The rejection committee noted that his portfolio showed technical skill in architecture but lacked sufficient human figures. Historians have long speculated how the 20th century might have unfolded if he had been accepted.
