Washington Monument

Early in the 19th century, the country saw fit to honor George Washington, who led the fight for American independence from Britain with a monument in the new capital, Washington, D.C. From a distance, the Washington Monument appears larger than life, asserting a dominance over the other monuments located in the National Mall. Just as its gigantic frame stands out among the rest of the monuments, its simple architectural style reflect Washington's unadorned grace.

The cornerstone was laid on July 4,1848. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the monument stood at 176 feet height. Construction was halted in 1861 and was taken up again in 1876. One of the outstanding engineering feats of the Washington Monument is the pyramidion which sits astride the top of the shaft from the 470-foot to the 500-foot levels. The pyramidion is 55 feet in height. To complete the obelisk, the aluminium capstone was placed atop the pyramidion on Dec 6, 1884. The Washington Monument stood 555 feet tall. The dedication of the completed Washington Monument took place on Feb 22, 1885 (153rd birth anniversary of George Washington).