Washington Monument

Washington Monument, national memorial in Washington, D.C., erected to honour the memory of George Washington, the first president of the United States (1789-1797). The original design of the monument, by Robert Mills, was later altered substantially by other architects. Constructed in the form of a hollow shaft, or obelisk, the monument is 169.29 m (555 ft 5ˆ in) high. The outer walls are faced with white marble from Maryland, and the apex is formed by a capstone of solid aluminium. The inner walls include stone blocks donated (and inscribed) by states, foreign governments, and private individuals.

In 1833 the Washington National Monument Society was formed to raise funds for a memorial to George Washington. Congress authorized the society to begin construction in 1848, and, on July 4 of that year, the cornerstone was laid with the same trowel that Washington used in 1793 to lay the cornerstone of the Capitol of the United States. Political wrangling and the American Civil War delayed completion until 1884. The monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885, and it was opened to the public three years later.

Reviewed by: National Park Service