Washington Monument Facts
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Overview George Washington commanded the Continental Army to victory over Great Britain in the American War for Independence, which ended in 1783. Elected unanimously as the first president of the United States of America in 1789, he has been called the ‘Father of the Country’.
The Washington Monument was created as a show of gratitude to George Washington in helping to create a new form of government espousing equal treament under the law.
Monument Facts
Year Started: July 4, 1848
Year Completed: December 6, 1884 (Officially opened to the public: October 9, 1888)
Cost: $1,187,710
Designer: Robert Mills
Style: Neo-Egyptian
What is the height of the memorial? 555 feet 5 1/8 inches
Width at base of shaft: 55 feet 1 1/2 inches
Width at top of shaft: 34 feet 5 1/2 inches
Thickness of walls at base of shaft: 15 feet
Thickness of walls at top of shaft: 18 inches
Depth of foundation: 36 feet 10 inches
Weight of the structure: 90,854 tons
What is the monuments sway in 30-mile-per-hour wind: 0.125 of an inch
Material: Marble brought from Maryland
Capstone weight: 3,300 lbs (1.65 tons)
Weight of aluminum tip on capstone: 100 oz (2.8 kg)
Number of Blocks: 36,491
How many steps are in the memorial: 897
Fastest known ascent time via stairs: 6.7 minutes (in 2005)
Number of Flags surrounding the building: 50, one represeting each State.
Visitors per year: 467,550 (in 2005)
Location: National Mall
Admission: Free
More Interesting Facts about Monument
In 1832 (the 100th anniversary of Washington's birthday), the Washington National Monument Society began to collect donations for a monument, holding a competition for the design in 1936. Robert Mills, who had designed the Department of Treasury building and the U.S. Patent Office building, won.
The trowel used by George Washington to lay the cornerstone of the Capitol in 1793 was also used in the cornerstone ceremony for Washington's monument in 1848.
The orginal design drawn by Mills included a colonnade, a statue of Washington on a chariot, and 30 statues of other Revolutionary War heroes. But due to cost considerations, only the design's obelisk was completed.
The monument is hollow on the inside, but its inner walls are set with 189 carved memorial stones, which were given by individuals, cities, states, and even other countries.
When it was completed, the monument stood as the world's tallest structure. In 1889, the title went to the completed Eiffel Tower in 1889.
The Washington Monument remains the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk to this day. In addition, the monument stands as the tallest structure in Washington, D.C.
In 1982, a nuclear arms protester held the monument hostage, claiming he had explosives. Park Police shot and killed the prostester, who had lied about the explosives.
A Brief History of the Monument
Initially, the Continental Congress approved a statue of George Washington on horseback that Pierre Charles l’Efant designed. However, this monument was never completed. And so, in 1832, James Madison and John Marshall formed the Washington National Monument for the purpose of building a monument in commemoration of George Washington, who had died in 1799. They planned to construct a large monument with a magnificence reflecting the greatness of George Washington and the gratitude of the United States citizens for their first president.
Launching a campaign to raise funds for the monument, the society initially allowed donors to contribute only $1. But by 1836, the society had only raised $28,000. While the funds were insufficient to construct any monument, the society did have enough money to hold a design competition.
Held in 1836, the competition was won by architect Robert Mills. His design consisted of an obelisk, colonnade, and 30 statues of patriot heroes. And the monument would become a centerpiece of the National Mall.
With the costs of the winning design estimated, the society removed contribution limits per person and quickly raised $88,000. Construction began in 1848. But after 152 feet of the monument was built, the society had exhausted its funds and construction stopped for 20 years (with the American Civil War contributing to the delay).
In 1876, USA's first centennial, interest in the Washington Monument revived. During that year, President U.S. Grant signed a bill for government funding to finish the monument. The United States Army Corps of Engineers took over the project and completed construction of the monument in 1884. However, due to work on the interior, it was not until 1888 that the monument was officially open to the public.
More History of the Washington Monument
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