Hughes Memorial Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hughes Memorial Tower |
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Hughes Memorial Tower (left)
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| General information | |
| Type | Radio tower |
| Address | 6001 Georgia Avenue |
| Town or city | Washington, D.C. |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 38°57′44″N 77°1′35″W / 38.96222°N 77.02639°W |
| Elevation | 288 feet (88 m) |
| Completed | January 15, 1989 |
| Owner | District of Columbia Office of Property Management |
| Height | 761 feet (232 m) |
The Hughes Memorial Tower is a very tall radio tower in Washington, D.C.. It stands at 6001 Georgia Avenue. This tower is the tallest building or structure in Washington, D.C. It is even taller than the famous Washington Monument by over 200 feet! It's also the second tallest freestanding structure in the entire Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
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About the Tower
The Hughes Memorial Tower was finished on January 15, 1989. It is built on a high spot in Washington's Brightwood neighborhood. This area is several miles away from where most other TV towers are located. Because it's so tall and stands out, you can see the tower from many places in Washington, D.C., and nearby Maryland.
Who Owns and Uses It?
The District of Columbia Department of General Services owns the tower. It is used for radio communication by the Washington, D.C. police and fire departments. This helps them talk to each other quickly during emergencies. Until 2017, it also broadcast the WDCW Channel 50 television signal.
How It Was Built
The tower has a unique three-legged design, like a star. This design is similar to the Star Tower in Cincinnati, Ohio. A Texas engineer named Henry “Hank” McGinnis designed it. The Landmark Tower Company built it. The tower is named after John S. Hughes. He was an Assistant D.C. Police Chief who helped the police department use new communication technology.
Tower Lights and Design
The Hughes Memorial Tower has special lights to warn airplanes. During the day, it has ten bright strobe lights on its legs. These lights flash every 1.5 seconds. At night, it has red warning lights. The tower's design also includes an ichthys, which is a symbol often called the "Jesus fish."
Tower's Impact and Challenges
In 1998, a group called the National Capital Planning Commission approved using the tower for a 9-1-1 emergency service upgrade. They noted that the tower was built without their earlier permission. They also worried about how the tower might affect the views of important monuments in the city.
Sometimes, the tower can cause problems in winter. Ice can form on the tower and fall off. When this happens, the police sometimes have to close the streets nearby to keep people safe.
