San Jacinto Column, Texas

This monument to the battle of San Jacinto is the tallest masonry column in the world. Built in 1939, it is 12 feet higher than the Washington Monument (which, according to Guinness, is the world's tallest obelisk at 555.43 feet). Like the Washington Monument, this 567.31-foot tall column has an elevator that takes visitors to an observation deck at its top.