The Washington Monument is a well-known monument in Washington, DC, built to commemorate George Washington. Designed by Robert Mills, construction began in 1848 and was completed in 1884. It is 555 feet tall, with 900 steps to the top. The monument is open to the public and welcomes over half a million visitors annually.
The Washington Monument, located at the western end of the National Mall in Washington, DC, is perhaps one of the most memorable and well-known monuments in the United States. Built to commemorate George Washington, the first president of the United States and commander of the Continental Army, the monument pays a dramatic tribute. It is located on 15th Street and can be seen for miles. One of the most famous sights in Washington DC is the memorial’s reflection in the Reflecting Pool, which sits between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
The design of the monument’s Egyptian obelisk was conceived in 1848 by American architect Robert Mills, winner of a design competition for the homage. The $1 million (USD) price tag — nearly $21 million in 2007 dollars — was staggering to many, but with a 37-acre donation from Congress, construction began that same year. The cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4, 1848. The company behind the monument was optimistic that donations would continue to flow in to fund the project.
By 1858, the fund and government were out of money, and the Washington Monument remained unfinished until 1878 when work resumed. Since the original stone quarried from Texas, Maryland and Massachusetts was unavailable, there is a distinct color change on the exterior walls. Although it was finally completed on December 6, 1884 when its aluminum capstone was placed, it didn’t open to the public until 1888. At the time, the memorial was the tallest in the world until the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris, France.
Standing just 555 feet (169 m) tall, the Washington Monument’s 80,000 tons of stone is staggering. It is 55 feet ½ inches (16.8 m) wide at the base and rises to a capstone 34 feet 5 inches wide (10.5 m). There are nearly 900 steps to the top of the monument, which are no longer open to the public. Inside the memorial, which is closed to the public, there are 193 headstones along the walls, all donated by different patriotic groups, cities and states. At the request of the memorial society, they were sent all over the place, beginning in 1848. They simply had to be quarried or made of native stone or materials, be durable, and 4 feet (1.2 m) by 2 feet (61 cm) high, and have a thickness of 18 inches (45.7 cm).
Today, the National Park Service welcomes over half a million visitors to the Washington Monument each year. Admission is free, but a ticket is required. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 8:30am. The monument is open daily from 9am to 5pm, except July XNUMXth and Christmas Day.
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