When it comes to guessing the tallest structure in DC, most might quickly say that it’s the Washington Monument – unfortunately, most of us would be wrong.
That being said, don’t worry or feel bad if that was your guess – standing at 555 feet tall, the Washington Monument does tower over most of the prominent memorials, monuments, and buildings across the capital.
What is the tallest structure in Washington, DC?
Well, the tallest structure in DC is a memorial in Northern DC called the Hughes Memorial Tower, a 761-foot tall tower that is both a memorial and a radio tower owned by DC and maintained by the Office of Unified Communications that almost looks reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower!
Located in the parking lot of a Police Station in the 4th District near the intersection of Peabody St NW and 9th St NW – the memorial is named after John S. Hughes, a former police officer credited with leading the department’s adoption of communications technology.
While Hughes Memorial Tower is not nearly as famous as the Washington Monument, it does stand roughly 200 feet taller than one of the capital’s most iconic structures.
The Hughes Memorial Tower isn’t a new addition to the district, it was completed in January 1989, so it’s been the tallest structure in the district for around 35 years!
To this day it is used to anchor wireless communications between the several public safety agencies operating around the district, including first responders like police, EMS, and fire, amongst others.
Why do people think the Washington Monument is the tallest?
Ranking the tallest structures, particularly in DC where the skyline is void of skyscrapers like NYC or LA, there is a particular sense of pride when it comes to our historical structures, which might be why so many Washingtonians and outsiders alike might be so quick to guess that the Washington Monument is the tallest structure in the district.
Though to be fair, the Washington Monument was the tallest structure in the world between 1184 and 1889 and was the tallest structure in the United States until 1939.
That being said, you wouldn’t be alone if you felt that including TV Towers in the ranking feels, well, lame… we’re with you on that.
This is exactly why we’ve put an asterisk (*) next to each structure that exclusively functions as a TV Tower in our ranking below:
- The Hughes Memorial Tower – 761 feet
- WTTG TV Tower – 704 feet *
- WJLA TV Tower – 692 feet *
- WRC TV Tower – 662 feet *
- Washington Monument – 555 feet
As you can see, if you take out all structures that function exclusively as TV towers you’re left with the Washington Monument as the second tallest structure in DC, and if you want to take a step further and discredit the Hughes Memorial Tower as well since it does in fact function partly as a Radio Tower, you’re left with the Washington Monument as the tallest structure in the district.