WASHINGTON MONUMENT
Construction of this magnificent Washington, D.C., monument, which draws
some
two million visitors a year, took nearly a century of planning, building, and controversy. Provision for a large equestrian statue of George Washington was
made in the original city plan, but the project was soon dropped. After Washington's death it was taken up again, and a number of false starts and
changes of design were made. Finally, in 1848, work was begun on the monument that stands today. The design, by architect Robert Mills, then featured an
ornate base. In 1854, however, political squabbling and a lack of money
brought construction to a halt. Work was resumed in 1880, and the monument was
completed in 1884 and opened to the public in 1888. The tapered shaft, faced with white marble and rising from walls 15 feet thick (4.6 m) at the base was
modeled after the obelisks of ancient Egypt. The monument, one of the tallest masonry constructions in the world, stands just over 555 feet (169 m).
Memorial stones from the 50 States, foreign countries, and organizations line
the interior walls. The top, reached only by elevator, commands a panoramic
view of the city.
Picture courtesy of Washington DC Convention and Visitors Bureau
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