Love it or hate it, the Washington Monument is a part of our daily lives, and it’s certainly a part of our daily views. It was on this day in 1885 that the monument was finally dedicated, almost 40 years after its cornerstone had been laid by a group of Freemasons. At the time, it was the tallest building in the world, and it remains the tallest stone structure of its kind.

Much as it has been over its 127 years, the monument is currently closed for repairs, this time due to the damage caused by the August 2011 earthquake. And just as lack of funds helped delay the monument’s construction, it took a $7.5 million donation from a local philanthropist to kickstart this round of repairs.

So here’s to you, Washington Monument. It’s been 127 years of you starkly standing against the Washington sky, serving as a tourist destination and provoking countless phallic jokes.