The 10 Tallest Monuments in the United States (Photos)

These are the tallest monuments in the United States many of which are famous and all of which are great tourist attractions. 

The list does not include statues or lighthouses. This list is only for monuments, the majority of which are obelisks.

All of these ten tallest monuments in the United States have observation decks which are all open to the public. Some have elevators to the top while others just have stairs but all have great views from the top.

10 Tallest Monuments in the United States

1. Gateway Arch in St. Louis—630 feet high

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri is one of the most recognizable monuments in the United States and in the world as it is 630 feet tall and also 630 wide from base to base. Built from 1963-1965 and opened to the public in 1967, the Gateway Arch is a beautiful structure and huge tourist attraction in St. Louis that allows tourists to ride to the top to an observation area for fantastic views where visitors can see as far as 30 miles on a clear day. The Gateway Arch is the symbol for the city of St. Louis, Missouri.

2. San Jacinto Monument in Texas—570 feet

The San Jacinto Monument is located in San Jacinto State Park in La Porte, Texas, just east of Houston. The monument is dedicated to the "Heroes of the Battle of San Jacinto and all others who contributed to the independence of Texas." The San Jacinto Monument is 570 feet tall and weighs over 70 million pounds, is 125 square feet at the base and tapers up to 30 square feet at the top where there sits a 34 foot high lone star. There is an elevator to the observation deck at the top.

3. Washington Monument in Washington DC—555 feet

The Washington Monument is located on the west end of the National Mall in Washington DC and stands 555 feet high. Though only the third tallest monument in the United States, the Washington Monument is the tallest structure or building in the capital city and when it was completed in 1884 it was the tallest structure in the world until 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was completed. The Washington Monument is a very popular tourist attraction in Washington and visitors can ride an elevator to the top for great views of the capital.

4. Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial in Ohio—352 feet

The Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial is located in the town of Put-in-Bay, Ohio on South Bass Island in Lake Erie north of Sandusky near where the Battle of Lake Erie was fought. In the Battle of Lake Erie Oliver Hazard Perry commanding a United States Navy fleet of nine vessels defeated and captured six Royal Navy Vessels in 1813 during the War of 1812. Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial was built from 1912 to 1915 to commemorate the victory and the lasting peace since between the USA and Great Britain. Visitors to the memorial can climb to an observation deck for amazing views of Lake Erie.

5. Jefferson Davis Memorial in Kentucky—351 feet

The Jefferson Davis Memorial is located in the Jefferson Davis State Historic Site in Fairview, Kentucky off US Highway 68. Built from 1917 to 1924, the monument is 351 feet high and has an elevator to take visitors to the observation platform at the top.

6. Bennington Battle Monument in Vermont —306 feet

The Bennington Battle Monument was built from 1887 to 1889 to commemorate the Revolutionary War battle in which the American Colonists defeated two British detachments from General Burgoyne's invading army. There is an elevator to the observation deck where you can great views of Vermont and New York State, where the battle actually took place.

7. Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis—284.5 feet

Completed in 1902, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis has an elevator that takes visitors to the observation deck for great views.

8. Pilgrim Monument—252 and 7 1/2" feet high

Located in Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts is the Pilgrim Monument which was built from 1907 to 1910. This is the tallest all granite structure in the United States. It's 116 steps and 60 ramps to the top, which takes about 10 minutes.

9. Bunker Hill Monument—221 feet high

There are 294 steps to the observation deck at the 221 foot high Bunker Hill Monument located in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

10. High Point Monument in New Jersey—220 feet high

The High Point Monument marks the highest point in New Jersey and was built in 1930 as a war memorial. It is located in High Point State Park in extreme northwest New Jersey. There are 291 steps to the highest observation platform near the top.