Rather of soaring to 600 feet, as Mills had planned, Casey was convinced to make the height of the construction ten times the breadth of the base, implying that the appropriate height for the Washington Monument was 555 feet.
This decision was made so that the view from the top would be appreciated by everyone in Washington, D.C., and this rule still applies today. The monument was built using red sandstone from Mount Vernon, Virginia, and white marble from out-of-town sources. During its construction, many heavy machinery used on the site caused extensive damage to land owned by George Washington's estate. In order to repay George Washington for these damages, the federal government placed the monument in the National Mall, which was originally called "Washington Park". It was not until 1831 that the name "National Mall" was officially adopted.
The construction of the Washington Monument was a monumental task for its time. The project took six years to complete and used approximately 70,000 tons of material. The total cost was $150,000 (1861 dollars), which at that time was more than what had been spent on all previous United States monuments combined.
After it was completed in 1884, the Washington Monument became the world's tallest statue outside of Europe for three decades. It was also the largest stone sculpture ever created before or since then.
It has a 3 m (10 ft) base. The total height of the monument is 23.7 meters (78 ft.) A view of Washington, D.C. from a distance.
The statue was designed by Frédéric-Auguste Cadet and Emmanuel Frémiet and built by the French for $1.5 million ($20 million in today's dollars). It was first displayed in New York City at the International Exhibition of 1884 and later moved to its present location in Washington, D.C. in 1886.
Its arms are raised in a gesture of welcome and hope. Lady Liberty holds an olive branch in her left hand and a tablet inscribed "E Pluribus Unum" or "Out of many, one" in her right hand. The words reflect the ideals of the United States' founders: tolerance and unity under the law.
The copper sheathing on which it is modeled will eventually wear away due to friction between the statue and its surroundings. Because there is no way to repair the statue, this natural process will not affect its appearance.
The pedestal on which the statue stands is also made of copper but this metal is old and worn because it forms part of the plumbing system used to supply water to the interior of the crowning element.
The Washington Monument, designed in the style of an Egyptian obelisk to evoke the timelessness of ancient civilizations, reflects the nation's awe, respect, and appreciation for its most important Founding Father. At 555 feet and 5-1/8 inches, the Washington Monument was the highest building in the world when it was finished. It remains the tallest stone structure in the world.
Construction on the monument began on April 13, 1848, and it was completed eight years later at a cost of $15,000 (about $220,000 in today's dollars). The money came from private donations and was not paid for by the federal government as many people believe today. The builder was Thomas Jefferson Davis, who was president of the University of Virginia where Washington had his home called "Mount Vernon."
The monument is composed of Doric column pairs with Ionic capitals, all painted white to reflect the purity of our ideals. The overall effect is majestic and inspiring, making it one of America's greatest treasures.
In September 1800, President John Adams signed a bill authorizing the secretary of state to invite citizens from different countries to contribute to a worldwide effort to build a memorial to the first American president. When it was completed in 1825, it was called the "Monument to George Washington." But since it was made out of marble taken from Mount Vernon, it was really being built to honor both Washington and the country he led.
George Washington's Monument The Washington Monument, designed in the style of an Egyptian obelisk to evoke the timelessness of ancient civilizations, reflects the nation's awe, respect, and appreciation for its most important Founding Father. Today, it remains the third highest monument to a person in America (after the Statue of Liberty and the Lincoln Memorial). The Washington Monument was built from 1829 to 1854 by Italian sculptor Antonio Canova who modeled the sculpture after Alexander Phuong, an American architect who served as George Washington's general during the Revolutionary War.
Canova also designed the President's House which now houses the National Gallery of Art. The Monument was so innovative at the time that it used iron rods instead of stone for the base, which allowed more space for the ground to be used for parking.
It took almost 20 years to complete the project and it was inaugurated on October 31, 1855. At the time, it was the largest stone structure in the world. The Washington Monument is still considered one of the greatest works of architecture of its time. In 1998, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Height of Washington Monument: 169 m (558 ft). The Washington Monument is one of the most famous monuments in America. Erected between 1848 and 1854, it was designed by Thomas Jefferson and his architect Daniel-Thomas Burnham. The monument was built with $150,000 in gold coins that had been removed from the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia during that city's bank run of 1836.
The Washington Monument is an obelisk honoring George Washington. It is the world's first presidential memorial and was intended to be his final resting place. When construction on the monument was completed in 1855, it was the highest point in D.C.; today, it is still the second highest point after Mount Vernon.
As you can see from the picture, the Washington Monument is quite tall! It is located in Washington, D.C., which means that it is part of the United States. The base of the monument is about the same size as a football field, which makes it one of the largest single objects made completely of marble.