Give several examples of monuments in Maryland / DC / PA that might be familiar to folks who live here but which would not be understood by outsiders

Some examples of monuments that wouldn't be understood by ousiders would be the washington monument in D.C. and the lincoln momorial in D.C. The washington mumument is an obosisk but it is not egyptian even though it is not to memorialize an egyptian god. The lincoln momorial looks like a greek or roman temple even though it is not to memorialize a greek or roman god.

Picture sources

Washington monument.jpg. Web. 3 Feb. 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_monument.jpg

Lincoln Memorial Close-Up.jpg. Web. 3 Feb. 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_Memorial_Close-Up.jpg