Towering over everything else is the Hughes Memorial Tower. It’s hard to believe it’s here in Washington D.C. The Hughes Memorial Tower is a radio tower. It stands tall at 6001 Georgia Avenue. It’s near the intersection of 9th Street NW and Peabody Street NW.
The Hughes Memorial Tower is the tallest structure in the district. It measures 761 feet. That is over 200 feet taller than the Washington Monument. It even beats the WTTG Television Tower by 55 feet. Only the River Road Tower in Bethesda, Maryland is taller in this metro area.
The Hughes Memorial Tower was finished on January 15, 1989. Its location is at 38°57′47″N 77°1′36″W. The elevation is 87.7 meters above sea level. You’ll find it in the Brightwood neighborhood. This is off Georgia Avenue NW. It is a few miles from the city’s other towers in Tenleytown.
The District of Columbia owns the Hughes Memorial Tower. The Department of General Services manages it. The tower helps with radio communication. The D.C. police and fire departments use it. WDCW Channel 50 used to transmit from here until January 2018.
Interestingly, the Hughes Memorial Tower shares its design. The Star Tower in Cincinnati, Ohio looks similar. Henry “Hank” McGinnis, a Texas engineer, designed it. The Landmark Tower Company built it. The tower got its name from John S. Hughes. He was an Assistant D.C. Police Chief. He led the department’s move to communications tech.
If you look closely, you’ll notice ten strobe beacons on the tower’s legs. They flash during the day. Red warning lights blink at night. The design even includes an ichthys, or Jesus fish. This comes from the early sketches.
Back in 1998, there was a bit of controversy. The National Capital Planning Commission approved using the Hughes Memorial Tower. It was to be part of a 9-1-1 service upgrade. They noted the tower was built without their permission. Some worried about how it affected views of the capital’s monuments. Residents also complained about streets closing. This was due to falling ice in winter.
Despite the concerns, the Hughes Memorial Tower remains an important part of D.C. It is a vital piece of the city’s communication infrastructure. Next time you are figuring out which is the tallest structure, remember the Hughes Memorial Tower.