Description: Attached document reads: [PAGE 1] “To Americans the Washington Monument is the national symbol of Washington the city and Washington the man. As a landmark visible for miles by day, or by night when it is illuminated by brilliant floodlights, it is a fitting introduction to the Capital of the Nation. As a monument its simplicity of line and austere dignity make it an appropriate national memorial to the first President.” The actually building of this shaft has an interesting history for it was not completed until December 6, 1884, after more than a century of efforts made by vacillation, financial difficulties, political bickering, religious intolerance and even theft of the Monument itself. On August 7, 1783, even before the British troops had been evacuated from the erstwhile Colonies, Congress passed a resolution providing, “That an equestrian statue of George Washington be erected at the place where the resident of congress shall be established …. The statue should be supported upon a marble pedestal on which should be represented four principal events of the war which he commanded in person…” When L-Enfant drew up his plans for the Federal City in 1791 he included a place for the equestrian statue of Washington. The place is approximately the same spot upon which the monument was constructed. Washington, in his modesty, objected to any expenditure from the limited government resources, and the matter was dropped. After Washington’s death in December, 1799, John Marshall proposed a marble tomb. However, after two years of haggling, the appropriation failed to pass the Senate. Until 1848 nothing definite resulted from the several efforts made to raise funds for the monument [PAGE 2] In 1848, Congress granted the Washington National .Monument Society a site on public ground “not otherwide occupied.” On July 4, 1848, the cornerstone was laid with elaborate Masonic rites. Washington’s trowel, used in laying the cornerstone of the Capitol in 1793, was used by Grand Master French. George Winthrop, Speaker of the House, made the formal address. Contributions were made. Citizens of Alabam offered to quarry, cut, and dress a stone for the Memorial in lieu of a monetary donation. This plan was eagerly accepted by the Society and calls went out for contributions in kind. States, societies, fraternal orders, individuals, and even foreign powers sent appropriately inscribed stones. One block of marble from the Temple of Concord at Rome came as a gift of Pop Pius IX. All have been set in the inner walls of the shaft where visitors using the stairs may pause and read the memorial inscriptions --- all except one, the one sent by the Pope. A New anti-foreign, anti-catholic political organization, the American party, protested this “Papist” gift. When their complained were disregarded they resorted to violence. On the night of March 5, 1854, a band of masked men overpowered the night watchman at the Monument, and stole the disputed block of marble. It was never recovered. It is believed that the “Know Nothings,” as the members of the American Party were popularly called, smashed it with sledge hammers and dropped the fragments into the Potomac. This act of vandalism outraged the entire world, and donations of stones and money abruptly ceased. [PAGE 3] The monument became a political football in 1876. During this year the Centennial Exposition was held in Philadelphia. It had not been prospering as had been expected, and the Democratic House voted to meet in Independence Hall and re-enact the signing of the Declaration of Independence, hoping to stimulate interest in the exposition. The Republican Senate, pointing out that the House had been elected on an economy program now proposed to have a “grand jollification on public funds,” defeated the measure. Unhappily for the Republicans, the public took this move of the Senate as an unpatriotic gesture. The Senate then cast about for some means to redeem itself. The Washington Monument, bleak and unfinished, was there before their eyes. Senator Sherman hastily introduced a measure appropriated $100,000 to complete it, fully expecting that the Democratic House, smarting under the rebuke administered, would reject the bill. This the House would doubtless have done had not several astute members of the Monument Society appeared before the Appropriations Committee and pointed out the danger of drawing down public disapproval on the heads of the Democrats. Eventually the act was passed with an Appropriations Committee and pointed out the danger of drawing down public disapproval on the heads of the Democrats. Eventually the act was passed with an appropriation of $200,000 payable $50,000 a year for four years. The Senate passed the bill, which was approved, by President Grant on August 2, 1876. Work proceeded rapidly. On February 21, 1885, Robert Winthrop, who had delivered the formal address at the laying of the cornerstone 36 years before, dedicated the Washington Monument. On October 9, 1888, it was opened to the public. The Monument is 555 feet 5½ inches high. The elevator and a flight of 898 steps ascend to a chamber at the 500 foot level directly under the pyramidal cap. Paired windows in each wall open upon remarkable views of the city and countryside. [PAGE 4] Through the east window may be seen the Mall, the Constitution Avenue group of buildings, the Capitol, the Library of Congress, the House and Senate Office buildings, the Supreme Court Building, and the Union Station. To the south lies the waterfront of Washington, Potomac Park and River. To the west are the Army and Navy buildings, the reflecting pool, and the Lincoln Memorial. To the north are the White House, the State and Treasury buildings and to the northwest, beyond the principal residential section, the Washington Cathedral. The Monument is a hollow shaft, without decoration or embellishment other than the east entrance door and the paired windows on each side at the 500 foot level. The design is generally attributed to Robert Mills, but the present monument has little in common with Mill’s original plan The exterior blocks of marble are laid in 2 foot courses of regular ashlar, or squared stone, backed by rubble masonry, up to the 150 foot level, where government engineers begin their work. They substituted for the rubble masonry backing a solid wall of New England granite, which is carried to the 452 foot level, where through and through blocks of marble begin. At the 470 foot level the stone ribs of the pyramidion itself, starting at the 500 foot level, is composed of marble slabs 7 inches thick laid over the stone ribs. A 3,300 pound capstone secures the slab. The capstone is tipped with an aluminum pyramid 8 9/10 inches high, weighting 100 ounces, which is surrounded by 144 platinum-tipped lightning conductors. This, the largest and costliest solid block of aluminum cast up to that time, 1884, is inscribed on all four side – north, names of the members of the commission which completed the construction; west, important dates in the history of the Monument; south, the names of the technical staff; east, the Latin phrase, “Laus Deo.” View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B11F04_15_001
Subjects: Ohio State School for the Blind; Models; Washington Monument (Washington, D.C.)
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)