Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the initial height measured for the Washington Monument before recalculation?
What was the initial height measured for the Washington Monument before recalculation?
What year was construction on the Washington Monument officially started?
What year was construction on the Washington Monument officially started?
Which architect proposed the original design for the Washington Monument?
Which architect proposed the original design for the Washington Monument?
What material is the Washington Monument faced with?
What material is the Washington Monument faced with?
Signup and view all the answers
How thick are the load-bearing masonry walls at the base of the Washington Monument?
How thick are the load-bearing masonry walls at the base of the Washington Monument?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant milestone was celebrated that rekindled interest in constructing the Washington Monument?
What significant milestone was celebrated that rekindled interest in constructing the Washington Monument?
Signup and view all the answers
Which structure supplanted the Washington Monument as the world's tallest man-made structure?
Which structure supplanted the Washington Monument as the world's tallest man-made structure?
Signup and view all the answers
Where were Washington's remains planned to be eventually reinterred?
Where were Washington's remains planned to be eventually reinterred?
Signup and view all the answers
Who contributed a stone from the Temple of Concord in Rome to the monument?
Who contributed a stone from the Temple of Concord in Rome to the monument?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant event caused construction of the monument to be halted?
What significant event caused construction of the monument to be halted?
Signup and view all the answers
What visible difference exists between the upper and lower portions of the Washington Monument?
What visible difference exists between the upper and lower portions of the Washington Monument?
Signup and view all the answers
How much time passed between the beginning of construction and the dedication of the Washington Monument?
How much time passed between the beginning of construction and the dedication of the Washington Monument?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant feature was installed that allowed visitors to reach the observation deck of the monument?
What significant feature was installed that allowed visitors to reach the observation deck of the monument?
Signup and view all the answers
What condition caused the Washington Monument to close again after its major restoration in the 1990s?
What condition caused the Washington Monument to close again after its major restoration in the 1990s?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was the president at the time when the Washington Monument was officially dedicated?
Who was the president at the time when the Washington Monument was officially dedicated?
Signup and view all the answers
How tall was the Washington Monument when construction was halted due to the Civil War?
How tall was the Washington Monument when construction was halted due to the Civil War?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Washington Monument
- Proposed in 1783, a statue of George Washington on horseback.
- Site chosen at the center of the original District of Columbia.
- Designed by Pierre-Charles L'Enfant in 1791.
- Project abandoned due to bureaucratic issues and other problems.
- 1833: Washington National Monument Society selected a 600-foot obelisk design by Robert Mills
- Site shifted 350ft northeast due to weight issues.
- Construction began in 1848 and included stones donated by states and organizations.
- Pope Pius IX donated a stone from the Roman Temple of Concord.
- Construction halted by the Civil War.
- 152 feet tall when the war ended, appearing like a factory chimney.
- In 1884, it was completed and became the tallest man-made structure.
- Its height was originally 555 feet 5 inches, then recalculated to 554 feet 7 inches in 2014.
- Measured 55 feet square and 554 feet 7 inches tall.
- Estimated weight: 91,000 tons
Construction and Completion
- Army Corps of Engineers took over completion after earlier difficulties.
- Marble variations in the top two-thirds differ from the bottom third.
- Completed and dedicated on December 6, 1884 by President Chester Arthur.
- Opened to the public in 1888 with a steam elevator.
- More than 190 inscribed stones from various places.
- 1990s restoration, reopened in 2001.
- Closed again after a 2011 earthquake, reopening in 2014.
- Capstone weighed 3,300 pounds.
- Base walls 15 feet thick and tapered to 18 inches at top.
Historical Context and Impact
- First proposed in 1783 to honor George Washington.
- Monument initially envisioned as a towering obelisk with a circular base featuring 30 Doric columns
- Intended to house Washington's remains
- First man-made structure for 5 years.
- Reached completion in 1884.
- Was the tallest man-made structure, then exceeded by Eiffel tower after 5 years
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on the history and construction of the Washington Monument. From its original proposal in 1783 to its completion in 1884, discover key facts about this iconic structure. Challenge yourself with questions about significant figures, design changes, and construction milestones.
