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Washington Monument
George Washington “Father of his Country” is honored many ways. Universities, colleges, schools, a state, and even the capital of America have been named after him. However, none compare to the Washington monument. Designed by Robert Mills, the overall height of the monument would be 555 feet and 5 ½ inches and the overall width of the monument would be 55 feet 1 ½ inches will on estimated cost of $1 million.
After the announcement of the estimated cost of the project, the society removed the $1 limit contribution per person to raise the additional funds needed. Soon after, the society had raised $88,000, enough to begin construction.
Construction began on July 4, 1848. Thousands had gathered to celebrate the moment when the work would begin. To aid in the process of building the monument, the society invited civic groups, nationalities, states, and private organizations to donate commemorative stones to be placed in the interior walls surrounding the stairwell.
Due to increasing vandalism and theft, the contributions eventual stopped 1854, at the time the monument was only 152 feet tall. Construction had halted for 20 years. The civil war had also contributed to the delay. During this time, the monument was viewed as an embarrassment.
The nation’s first centennial in 1876 renewed interest in the national pride and completing it. That year, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the bill for the government to fund the completion. It was the Army Corps of Engineers who took over the project, seeing it through to completion in December of 1884.
The official dedication ceremony occurred the day before Washington’s birthday in 1885, but it wasn’t until 1888 that the public was allowed to step foot inside the monument because of work still being done on the interior. During this time, the stairwell of 897 steps was completed. The final cost of the project was $1,817,710.
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