Rocket causes deadly fire on aircraft carrier. A fire on a United States Navy carrier stationed off the coast of Vietnam kills 134 service members on this day in 1967. The deadly fire on the USS Forrestal began with the accidental launch of a rocket. During the Vietnam War, the USS Forrestal was often stationed off the coast of North Vietnam, conducting combat operations.
In 1994, the Liberty Memorial was closed due to structural and material deterioration. The Memorial Tower rises 217 feet above the surrounding observation deck and 268 feet above the north lawn. The cylindrical tower is 36 feet in diameter at its base and 28 feet in diameter at the top. An elevator is located within the shaft that transports visitors to an observation platform at the top.
The Washington Monument stood at only about 150 feet tall for many years. Eventually, construction was completed and the capstone was set on December 6, 1884. The Washington Monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885, and officially opened to the public on October 9, 1888. Finally finished, it was 555 feet 51â8 inches tall! The Washington Monument sits at the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It is due east of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial.