Lincoln Memorial.

Standing at the western terminus of the National Mall, this neoclassical tribute to the 16th president is modeled after the Parthenon, a nod to the Greek birthplace of democracy. The structure’s 36 Doric columns represent the states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death, while inside, Daniel Chester French’s massive marble statue of a seated, contemplative Lincoln towers over visitors. Flanking the central chamber, the walls are inscribed with the full text of the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address. Beyond its architectural weight, the memorial serves as a profound cultural landmark; the site where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. Open 24 hours a day, the monument offers its most striking views at night when the stone is illuminated.