The Washington Monument

The Washington Monument was created as a show of gratitude to George Washington in helping to create a new form of government espousing equal treatment under the law. The Washington Monument is made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, is both the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, standing 555 feet 5 1/8 inches. Taller monumental columns exist, but they are neither all stone nor true obelisks. Construction of the monument begin in 1848, but was halted from 1854 to 1877, and finally completed in 1884. The hiatus in construction happened because of co-option by the Know Nothing party , a lack of funds, and the intervention of the American Civil War. A difference in shading of the marble ,visible approximately 150 feet up, shows where construction was halted. Its original design was by Robert Mills, an architect of the 1840s, but his design was modified significantly when construction resumed. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; the capstone was set on December 6, 1884, and the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885. It officially opened October 9, 1888. Upon completion, it became the world's tallest structure, a title previously held by the Cologne Cathedral. The monument held this designation until 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris, France.         Monument Facts. Width at base of shaft, 55 feet 1 1/2 inches. Width at top of shaft, 34 feet 5 1/2 inches. Thickness of walls at base of shaft, 15 feet. Thickness of walls at top of shaft, 18 inches. Depth of foundation, 36 feet 10 inches. Weight of structure, 90,854 tons. What is the monuments sway in a 30-mile-per hour wind, 0.125 of a inch. Material, Marble brought from Maryland. Capstone weight, 3,300 lbs.  Weight of aluminum tip on capstone, 100 oz. Number of Blocks, 36,491. How many steps are in the memorial, 897. Number of flags surrounding the building, 50, one representing each State. The monument is under construction after an earthquake. Information from the Internet.