Washington Monument

Definition

The Washington Monument is an obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, the first President of the United States.

Analogy

Think of the Washington Monument as a giant trophy that America gave itself to celebrate its first president. Just like how you might get a trophy for winning a sports competition, America built this monument to honor George Washington's leadership and contributions.

Related terms

Obelisk: A tall, four-sided pillar that tapers towards a pyramid-like top. It's like a skyscraper but with only one point at the top instead of a flat roof.

National Mall: This is not your typical shopping mall! The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., which contains many iconic monuments and museums. It's like America's front yard where we display our history and culture.

George Washington: He was the first President of the United States (1789–1797) and one of the Founding Fathers. Imagine him as your school's very first principal who set up all rules and traditions.