You’re told that they are important and given a vague explanation of why. Then you set about the fly yoga dc of never really thinking about them again.

That’s a shame because they can be quite fascinating—usually for reasons that they were never meant to be. Behind the stately columns and torches lies an entire world of weirdness hidden away from the public eye. The Washington Monument, the giant white obelisk in Washington, DC, was built in honor of the first US president, George Washington. What you may not have known is that the monument has a forgotten baby brother. Buried beneath an unassuming manhole right beside the famous landmark is a 3.

However, due to its proximity to the monument, the NGS employees decided to dress it up a bit rather than use the standard plain metal rods. Unfortunately, the miniature monument has sunk into DC’s marshy soil over the years. So it was given a proper burial. It was entombed in a brick chimney and sealed off from the world. It continues to sink about 0. Aside from being your typical stately government building, the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, offers a special service: For a small fee, you can own an American flag that has been flown over the Capitol.

So, if you wish to own a flag that is slightly more America-y than your neighbor’s, you’re welcome. But before you reach for your wallet, there’s just one thing. The flag you receive will indeed have been flown over the Capitol, but only on one of three tiny, hidden flagpoles for 30 seconds. However, when demand eventually outgrew supply, the CFP had to get creative. Three unremarkable flagpoles, complete with a small service elevator and crew of workers, are used to fly as many flags for the state-mandated 30 seconds as possible each day. Security cameras have even been installed to prevent workers from flying the flags for a disgustingly disrespectful 29 seconds. While it isn’t a really a national monument, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is still a world-famous symbol of American ingenuity.