The Washington Monument, Washington, DC

There is presently a construction project going on at Washington Monument. The elevator is being modernized to increase long-term reliability and safety. Additionally, a permanent screening facility is being built to enhance the safety and security of the monument's visitors. Quoting from the National Park Service's website on the History and Culture of the Washington Monument:

George Washington's military and political leadership were indispensable to the founding of the United States. As commander of the Continental Army, he rallied Americans from thirteen divergent states and outlasted Britain's superior military force. As the first president, Washington's superb leadership set the standard for each president that has succeeded him. The Washington Monument towers above the city that bears his name, serving as an awe-inspiring reminder of George Washington's greatness. The monument, like the man, stands in no one's shadow. 

The Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills and eventually completed by Thomas Casey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, honors and memorializes George Washington at the center of the nation's capital. The structure was completed in two phases of construction, one private (1848-1854) and one public (1876-1884). Built in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, evoking the timelessness of ancient civilizations, the Washington Monument embodies the awe, respect, and gratitude the nation felt for its most essential Founding Father. When completed, the Washington Monument was the tallest building in the world at 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches.

As a comparison, the present (2018) tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is 2,717 feet high. This building is a thousand feet higher than the One World Trade Center in New York City. Also, the Empire State Building is now listed as the 40th tallest building.