Facts About the Washington Monument

George Washington led the Continental Army to victory in the War for Independence against Great Britain in 1789. He was conferred with the title ‘Father of the Country’ and was also unanimously elected as the first president of the United States of America.

The Washington Monument was created with the concept of thanking George Washington for helping carve a new kind of a republic country where all men were treated as equal.

Washington National Monument Society

In 1783, the Congress approved an equestrian statue of George Washington that was designed by Pierre Charles l’Efant. This plan never took off and in 1833 that is on the 100th anniversary of George Washington’s birth, the Washington National Monument Society was created by James Madison and John Marshall with the purpose of creating a monument in memory of George Washington. They wanted to construct the largest monument in the world with dimensions and magnificence that would be proportionate to the greatness of George Washington and also the gratitude that the people pf United States felt towards him.

The society began a fund raising campaign to construct the monument. At the beginning, the society allowed each person to contribute only $1. By 1836 the society has been able to raise only $28,000. Although it was not enough to construct any monument, it was enough to hold a competition for the design, which is exactly what the society did.

The design competition that was held in 1836 was won by Robert Mills who was an architect by profession. As per his designs, the monument would radiate simplicity and grandeur together just like George Washington. The design was a simple obelisk that was to be built as the centerpiece of the National Mall. The Washington Monument height was proposed at 55 feet and 5.5 inches while the width would be 55 feet and 1.5 inches.

Once the estimated cost was calculated, the society removed the limit of contribution per head. The society was able to collect $88,000 quickly and the construction took off. After 152 feet of the monument was built, the society ran out of funds and the construction ceased. Construction was stopped over 20 years, the Civil War also contributing its share to the delay.

Interest in the Washington Monument was renewed during 1876, the first centennial of the United States. President, Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill approving government funding to complete the construction. The Army Corps of Engineers took over the project and completed the construction in December 1884.

The monument was officially dedicated to George Washington a day before his birthday in 1885. But it was only in 1888 that the public was allowed to enter the monument as the work was incomplete on the interior of the monument.

Facts About the Washington Monument

Here are some interesting facts about the Washington Monument:

• The corner stone was laid on July 4, 1848. The same trowel was used that George Washington used to lay the cornerstone of the Capitol way back in 1793. Thousands gathered around the construction site to celebrate the moment.
• The walls of the monument are 15 feet thick at the bottom and 18 inches at the top.
• The walls are covered with white marble that was brought in from Maryland.
• While the monument is hollow on the inside, the inner walls are set with 189 memorial stones that are carved and were presented by individuals, cities, states, societies and other countries.
• The point at which construction was stopped in 1858 can be identified as the stones used above 152 feet have a darker tone of color when compared to the original ones.
• The Washington Monument is surrounded by flagpoles, each flag representing a flag of the state.
• The total cost of building the monument was $1,817,710.
• The construction of the monument was completed 30 years after the death of its architect, Robert Mills.

I have always been an ardent admirer of George Washington and they way that he led his life. I would like to end this article with this thought on friendship and valor – "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."