national mall washington built commemorate george_washington commander chief continental_army american president standing east monument marble granite world tallest stone structure world tallest standing feet inches tall tallest monumental column world measured pedestrian entrances taller measured ground stone true construction monument began halted lack funds struggle control intervention american civil war stone structure completed internal finishing touches completed difference marble visible approximately feet shows construction halted later resumed marble different source original design include proposed lack funds proceeding bare despite proposals original flat altered pointed marble cornerstone laid july stone laid atop unfinished august set december completed monument dedicated february officially opened october completion world tallest structure title previously held monument held designation completed paris france monument damaged virginia earthquake year remained closed public structure assessed repaired months repairs national_park_service reopened washington monument visitors history rationale george_washington hailed father country leader war peace hearts eulogy light horse harry lee washington funeral december dominant military political leader new united_states_of_america enemy king called greatest character age death left critical legacy exemplified core ideals american revolution new nation republican virtue devotion civic duty washington public icon american military civic patriotism identified lost control national government republicans reluctant celebrate hero opposition party proposals memorial starting victory revolution proposals build monument washington death congress authorized suitable memorial national capital decision reversed democratic republican party republicans took control congress republicans dismayed washington symbol furthermore values hostile idea building monuments powerful men blocked image coins celebration birthday political division civil war blocked completion late 19th century time washington image national hero celebrated memorials longer controversial early resolved equestrian statue george_washington erected place residence congress shall established proposal called statue explained erected honor george_washington commander chief armies united_states_of_america war secured liberty sovereignty independence currently equestrian statues president washington washington located intersection west end neighborhoods north end gardens days washington death congressional committee recommended different type monument representative virginia later chief justice supreme_court proposed tomb erected capitol lack funds disagreement type memorial best honor country president washington family reluctance body prevented progress project design progress memorial finally began year marked 100th anniversary washington birth large group concerned citizens formed raised donations announced competition design memorial september board managers society described expectations proposed contemplated monument shall like honor constructed world gratitude patriotism people erected blend magnitude beauty object pride american people admiration material intended wholly american marble granite brought state state participate glory contributing material funds construction society held competition designs winner architect citizens baltimore chosen build monument washington designed tall greek column statue president mills knew capital having chosen washington design called tall upright sided pillar rises nearly flat surrounded circular feature washington standing inside statues prominent revolutionary war heroes mills elaborate design built doorway egyptian style winged sun removed monument dedicated photo seen egyptian revival criticism mills design estimated price tag million caused society members decided start building leave question later believed collected start work appearance monument spur donations allow complete project construction originally intended located point line running directly south center white_house crossed line running directly west center capitol peter plan city intended permanent seat government united_states designated point location equestrian statue george_washington voted ground intended location proved unstable support structure heavy planned originally intended site feet current monument stands small called excavation initial construction early workers started build foundation july organization washington belonged laid cornerstone symbolically physically according shall come time virtues stamped heart mankind great battlefield looks upward washington grows wise counsel feels imitating washington resign power wishes people eye bright example washington years later july adopted son george_washington grandson dedicated stone people district_of_columbia monument ceremony president attended days died food poisoning donations run construction continued donations ran monument reached height feet time memorial stone contributed called pope stone destroyed members anti catholic better known know early morning hours march priest replaced caused public contributions cease appealed congress money request reached floor house_of_representatives seized control society february congress immediately expected contribution society effectively halting appropriation tenure added courses masonry feet monument rejected masonry found site increasing height shaft feet original society refused recognize illegal takeover societies existed inability secure contributions building monument surrendered possession monument original society october prevent future congress incorporated society february interest monument grew civil war engineers studied foundation times determine strong centennial declaration independence congress agreed appropriate resume construction work begin arguments appropriate design resumed people thought simple bare reputed said monument look like stalk critic said offered little proud attitude led people submit alternative designs congress held discussions monument finished society considered new designs concluding vastly superior artistic taste beauty congress mills original deciding ordered work continue finally members society agreed abandon alter classical egyptian proportions resumption construction resumed direction lieutenant colonel redesigned foundation strengthening support structure ultimately weighed tons followed society orders figured memorial stones accumulated people ridiculed managed install stones interior walls stone found elevator shaft monument slightly lighter shade rest construction marble obtained different building monument proceeded quickly congress provided sufficient funding years completed aluminum apex lightning rod place december apex largest single piece aluminum cast time aluminum commanded price comparable silver years later process aluminum easier produce price aluminum making valuable apex ordinary provided non apex served original lightning rod monument opened public october dedication monument dedicated february people present monument grounds hear speeches day ohio senator read unable attend col president president arthur proclaimed behalf people receive monument declare dedicated time forth immortal memory george_washington speeches lieutenant general led procession included dignitaries crowd past executive mansion white_house pennsylvania avenue east main entrance capitol president arthur received passing troops president cabinet diplomats listened representative read speech written months earlier speaker house_of_representatives cornerstone laid years earlier ill personally deliver speech final speech given virginia festivities concluded evening fireworks aerial ground displays later history time completion tallest building world title retained completed tallest stone structure world tallest building washington heights buildings act new building heights feet greater width adjacent street monument vastly taller capitals europe egypt ordinary antique block stone seldom taller approximately feet attracted enormous crowds officially opened months dedication people climbed steps landings elevator raise building materials altered carry passengers number visitors grew rapidly average people month going annual visitor count peaked average million visitors visited annually average visitors year historic areas administered national_park_service national memorial listed national_register_of_historic_places october early 1900s material started outer stones construction period foot mark referred tourists geological tuberculosis caused cement rubble filler outer inner walls lower section monument exposed cold hot damp dry weather conditions material dissolved worked way cracks stones outer wall outer surface hours december tourists held hostage nuclear arms claiming explosives van drove monument base shot killed mayer monument undamaged incident discovered later mayer explosives incident surrounding grounds modified places restrict possible unauthorized approach motor vehicles monument underwent extensive restoration project time completely covered designed american architect responsible interior changes project included cleaning repairing monument exterior interior stonework stone publicly accessible interior spaces glass prevent vandalism new windows narrower frames installed increase viewing space new exhibits celebrating life george_washington monument place history added temporary interactive visitors center dubbed discovery channel center constructed project center provided simulated ride monument shared information visitors phases monument closed majority project phases completed summer allowing monument reopen july monument temporarily closed december allow new elevator cab installed completing final phase restoration project new cab included glass windows allowing visitors memorial stones embedded monument walls installation cab took longer anticipated monument reopen february final cost restoration project million september monument closed million renovation included numerous security upgrades redesign monument grounds landscape architect renovations partly security concerns following september attacks start war terror monument reopened april surrounding grounds remained closed landscape finished later summer earthquake damage august sustained damage magnitude virginia earthquake cracks found monument national_park_service spokesperson reported discovered crack near structure announced monument closed indefinitely block partially pieces stone stone chips mortar paint chips came free monument interior stairs observation deck said bringing structural engineering firms extensive experience historic buildings earthquake damaged structures assess monument officials said examination monument exterior revealed debris field mortar pieces stone base monument substantial pieces stone fallen inside memorial crack central stone west face inch wide feet long discovered elevator system damaged operating foot level soon repaired september ranger arrived assist belonging difficult access team reason inspection park agency suspicion cracks monument upper section visible inside agency said filled cracks occurred august hurricane hit area august water discovered inside memorial leading suspect damage radios report found engineering experts ground took hours set equipment set barrier monument lightning rod system atop time hatch open external inspection monument completed october addition foot long west crack inspection found corner cracks surface pieces stone broken loose near monument loss joint mortar lower monument report issued december superintendent national mall memorial parks emphasized monument danger collapse structurally sound going told national media press conference september spent august september structure national_park_service said soon begin sealing exterior cracks monument protect rain snow july national_park_service announced monument closed repairs national_park_service hired construction management firm conjunction joint venture partner provide coordination designer general contractor numerous said portion plaza base monument removed constructed exterior july lighting added stone pieces saved inspection monument patches places stone lips help hold pound exterior place damaged engineers install metal monument national_park_service reopened visitors days ahead schedule repairs monument cost funding million cost funding million reopening interior secretary today american idol season winner present components cornerstone cornerstone laid great ceremony northeast corner lowest course step old foundation july architect monument stated september foundations brought nearly surface ground second step nearly completed covers corner stone cornerstone laid ground level ground level raised feet base shaft addition foot wide embankment reinforced foundation widened feet constructed cornerstone moved strengthening foundation upper surface feet pavement outside northeast corner shaft concrete slab old foundation concrete completely remains old foundation strengthening process half volume periphery lowest seven courses steps old foundation removed provide good pictures descriptions process exist fate cornerstone mentioned cornerstone pound marble block feet high feet square large hole case filled memorabilia hole covered copper plate inscribed date declaration independence july date cornerstone laid july names managers memorabilia case included items associated monument city washington national government state governments societies george_washington plus miscellaneous publications governmental commercial coin set bible totaling items collections items newspapers containing articles relating george_washington monument ceremony began parade dignitaries carriages marching troops fire companies societies long delivered speaker house_of_representatives cornerstone pronounced sound ceremony george_washington apron symbols attendance president federal state local government officials including bald eagle ceremony ended fireworks evening memorial stones states cities foreign countries societies organizations individuals contributed memorial stones inserted east west interior walls landings levels easy viewing south interior wall stairs difficult view sources disagree number stones reasons height stones included stones display time source publication included height stones refer stones indicate height phase construction stone inscription includes phrase foundation height feet installed foot high foot second phase construction stone horizontal line phrase statue capitol installed foot level historic structure report named memorial stones level including height stones jacob described detail pictured commemorative stones including foot stone capitol stone showed location memorial stones describe showed height stones stone installed named memorial stones level including capitol stone foot stone include stones installed inscription regarded memorial stone source printed letters rib wording inscription south face aluminum apex stones marble granite limestone sandstone miscellaneous types including combinations materials identified unusual materials include native copper michigan minnesota wood arizona alaska stones vary size feet square feet philadelphia new_york_city utah contributed stone territory state inscriptions include pre territorial located foot level stone foot level monument inscribed welsh language land nation wales wales stone imported wales donated welsh citizens new_york stones presented new_york school children philadelphia quote bible verses luke inscription sent ottoman government combines works eminent imperial student inscription script wrote giant istanbul stone donated brought commodore arrived washington replaced stones donated monument carried inscriptions commemorate george_washington example honor stated buy sell use wine george_washington owned whiskey operated left presidency aluminum apex aluminum apex time rare metal valuable silver cast philadelphia installation public display new_york_city stepped visitors stepped washington monument inches tall inch removed tip lightning strikes protected damage tall lightning rods surrounding base inches square angle opposite sides tip weighed lightning strikes removed small aluminum tip sides analysis showed composed aluminum rest shallow depression base match slightly raised area atop small upper surface marble sides apex downward protruding lip area prevents water entering joint large hole center base receive inch diameter copper rod monument form lightning protection system faces external aluminum apex bear inscriptions writing hand aluminum inscriptions original inscriptions lines east face added wide gold copper band held lightning rods covered inscriptions removed discarded inscriptions covered damaged lines north face lines west face lines south face lines east face inscriptions longer covered attempt repair apex accessible following table shows inscriptions blue inscriptions red colors appear actual apex printed sources refer original inscriptions refers inscriptions sources print according editorial rules resulting excessive inappropriate line breaks printed source uses writing pictures apex clearly inscriptions replica displayed foot level uses totally different line breaks external apex inscriptions october discovered display replica positioned latin praise god inscription seen omitted describing apex national_park_service omission creating new display lightning protection pointed feet monument originally designed inch tall inscribed aluminum apex served single lightning rod installed december months later june lightning damaged marble blocks net gold copper rods supporting inch gold platinum tipped copper points spaced feet installed entire original net included gold copper band attached aluminum apex large set screws supported closely spaced vertical points apex short points lengthened extend apex inches original system removed discarded replaced thick solid aluminum lightning rods protruding tip apex foot attached east west sides marble apex removed original lightning protection system connected tops iron columns supporting elevator large copper rods aluminum apex connected columns large copper rods longer lightning protection system disconnected present lightning rods shield lightning rods present connected iron columns large aluminum cables leading surface near southeast northwest corners enter base tied electrically large aluminum cables feet base iron columns connected ground water monument large copper rods pass foot square half filled sand center foundation effectiveness lightning protection system affected significant draw water table soil water content remains roughly height water table flags american flags state flags state flown hours day large circle centered monument american flags state existence flown wooden flag poles washington birthday later independence day memorial day special occasions early flags flag poles removed stored days foot tall aluminum flag poles anticipating alaska hawaii installed evenly spaced foot diameter circle diameter circle reduced feet washington birthday american flags flown daily basis increasing flags july flags july flags flown flag poles available placed base flags removed stored overnight july american flags flown hours day security temporary visitor security screening center added east entrance wake september attacks story facility designed reduce ability terrorist attack interior monument attempt seize hold visitors obtained timed entry tickets monument lodge east memorial passed metal bomb sensors prior entering monument exiting monument passed prevent entering facility story cube wood metal frame intended temporary new screening facility designed march approved new visitor screening facility replace temporary square foot facility stories high contain space screening visitors time exterior walls slightly prevent viewing security screening process consist outer sheet glass metal insert sheet glass inner sheet consist sheets slightly separated glass inch exist inner outer glass walls help facility possibly heat pumps built north monument provide heating cooling facility new facility provide office national_park_service united_states park police staff structure designed removed damaging monument approved aesthetic design screening facility june trench wall known built minimize visual impact security barrier surrounding monument september attacks unrelated terror threat monument authorities circle temporary jersey barriers prevent large motor vehicles approaching barrier replaced low inch granite stone wall doubles seating bench incorporates lighting installation received park landscape award merit construction details completed monument following construction materials details phase foot level direction exterior white marble texas quarry maryland adjacent east north near warren road exit courses foot levels added know foot course added removed phase construction shaft resumed phase work completed direction col col exterior white marble courses rows foot levels sheffield massachusetts exterior white marble feet beaver dam quarry near maryland structural marble feet feet granite feet concrete ground cost monument cost monument exterior structure total height monument height base shaft floor observation level feet width base monument width shaft thickness monument walls base feet thickness monument walls shaft inches thickness monument walls inches total weight monument including underground foundation long tons short tons tonnes total weight monument excluding underground foundation long tons short tons tonnes total number blocks monument marble granite blocks externally internally visible hidden view walls old foundation number marble blocks externally visible sway monument mile hour wind inches marble weight pounds measures feet base base feet foundation depth consisting foot thick block old foundation foot thick concrete slab weight long tons short tons tonnes includes earth rubble concrete foundation feet square perimeter area square feet interior present elevator installed present elevator cab installed elevator travel time seconds number steps monument flights stairs foot level steps flight plus foot spiral steps northeast corner original spiral replaced foot spiral different design steps northeast southeast corners spiral steps counted figures include step entrance passage replaced ramp transit served metro station located independence avenue popular culture landmark capital featured film television depictions symbolic meaning shape referenced novel lost symbol monument subject poem washington night
Washington Monument