The White House, the Capitol, and the Washington Monument are the three iconic landmarks of the U.S. capital.

The White House is literally translated as “White House,” not a palace. Americans do not consider it a palace because the president is only a president, essentially a chairman, not a king. A chairman is a role anyone could hold, but for the national chairman, one must be elected. The place where the chairman lives and works is simply a house, not a palace.

In 1790, the U.S. Congress decided to carve out a district between Maryland and Virginia to build a new capital. This “tofu block” measured 16 kilometers on each side, covering 177 square kilometers of rural land, where construction of the new presidential residence began. Work started in 1792 and took eight years, costing $230,000, roughly equivalent to $2.4 million today. The building was painted white on the exterior, hence the name “White House.”

In 1800, the presidential residence moved from Philadelphia to the new capital, named the District of Columbia. The name “Washington” was added later; at that time, the district was just a small rural town with a population of 8,000. In 1805, President Jefferson opened the White House to the public, welcoming visitors for tours. By then, the district’s population had grown to over 10,000.

During the War of 1812, British troops entered the district and burned the White House. It was rebuilt after the war, and from 1901 onward, it underwent multiple renovations and expansions to become its current form, including a five-story basement. The White House has generally been open to the public. In the 1990s, the author personally visited with friends, but after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, foreign visitors have had very limited access; now only U.S. citizens can tour it.

Construction of the Capitol began in 1793, with President Washington laying the cornerstone. The Senate was completed in 1800 and began operations, followed by the House of Representatives in 1811. Unfortunately, the Capitol was also burned by the British during the War of 1812. It was repaired afterward and, as the number of legislators grew, expanded multiple times to reach its current form. Tours can be arranged by appointment.

The Washington Monument was proposed more than 30 years after Washington’s death. In 1833, Congress approved the construction and decided that funding would come from public donations, with each contribution capped at one dollar. Construction began soon after but faced enormous costs, which, combined with the outbreak of the Civil War, caused a halt in 1854. Work remained suspended for 22 years. It resumed in 1876, now funded by the government, and was completed in 1884, opening to the public four years later. Overall, the monument project spanned 50 years, with 28 years of actual construction.

The monument stands 170 meters tall, equivalent to a 60-story building. Its exterior is white marble, with a total weight of over 80,000 tons, made from more than 30,000 individual blocks. All U.S. states and private donors contributed 193 cornerstone stones. Additionally, countries around the world donated 188 commemorative stones, including one from the Qing Dynasty in 1853, inscribed in Chinese praising President Washington for his great character: “Washington, a remarkable man… established principles of governance for the public good, not passing power to descendants… His rule was modest and virtuous, unlike other nations…” This stone is embedded on the interior wall of the 10th level of the monument and remains visible today.

The Qing Dynasty inscription reflects admiration for Washington’s integrity and hints at the Qing court’s awareness of global trends following the Opium War in 1840. In a country steeped in centuries of feudal tradition, such insight was like a shooting star piercing the night sky. It is regrettable that 160 years later, some modern Chinese leaders still resist engaging with global currents and universal civilization, whereas the Qing imperial court was comparatively more open-minded.

Visitors can queue to enter the monument freely. Inside, two elevators provide access to the observation deck, offering panoramic views of the capital and small souvenir shops.