Monumental Heights
The story of the construction of the Washington Monument is as impressive as its 555 feet 5-⅛ inch height. On February 21, 1885, thousands of Americans gathered in Washington, D.C. to witness the long-awaited dedication of the nation’s monument to George Washington. The event was the culmination of decades of on-again, off-again work that brought the towering obelisk to fruition.
Almost immediately after his death, Congress proposed that a monument be built to honor Washington. The journey to build the monument, however, was anything but smooth. To kick-start momentum for the project, a group of private citizens created The Washington National Monument Society and tasked it with raising funds for construction. Planning began in 1832, on the centennial of Washington’s birth. After a contest in 1836 to determine the design of the monument, architect Robert Mills was chosen to oversee the construction of an ambitious structure adorned with grand embellishments that included a colonnade and statues.
After years of difficulties in securing financing, construction finally began on July 4, 1848. Then-President James Polk presided over the cornerstone-laying ceremony. Of the approximately 20,000 people in attendance, three were future presidents: James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Johnson. However, continual financial setbacks, political turmoil, and the Civil War delayed construction for decades. On August 2, 1876, Congress funded the resumption of construction and directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, led by Lt. Col. Thomas Lincoln Casey, to lead the project. By the time work resumed, the design had been significantly simplified to the clean, elegant obelisk that now adorns the National Mall.
When Casey himself placed the capstone—a 100-ounce aluminum pyramid—atop the obelisk on December 6, 1884, the Washington Monument became the tallest structure in the world. Just a few months later, on Saturday, February 21, 1885, the dedication ceremony brought together dignitaries, military bands, and thousands of citizens eager to celebrate the completion of a project over 50 years in the making. It was held one day before Washington’s birthday because it fell on a Sunday that year.
President Chester A. Arthur presided over the dedication ceremony. In his speech, he declared, "In the completion of this great work of patriotic endeavor there is abundant cause for national rejoicing; for while this structure shall endure it shall be to all mankind a steadfast token of the affectionate and reverent regard in which this people continue to hold the memory of Washington. Well may he ever keep the foremost place in the hearts of his countrymen."
On the anniversary of the dedication ceremony, we reflect on the monumental legacy of the man it honors. The Washington Monument remains an iconic symbol of American ideals, greeting over 800,000 visitors from around the world each year.
In an Archives-related footnote to this story, after a 2011 earthquake damaged the monument, David M. Rubenstein joined Congress in a public/private partnership to repair it. He donated $7.5 million to the initiative, which made it possible for the monument to reopen in 2019. Rubenstein is a long-time supporter of the Archives. The David M. Rubenstein Gallery at the National Archives building houses the Records of Rights exhibit, which includes an original 1297 Magna Carta, on display courtesy of Rubenstein.
Other Presidential Monuments in D.C.
The Washington Monument is not the only tribute to presidential leadership in our nation’s capital.
Lincoln Memorial
One of the most visited monuments in the nation, the Lincoln Memorial honors the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Completed in 1922, it features a massive statue of Lincoln, seated on a huge chair and facing the halls of Congress at the far end of the National Mall. The walls of the monument are inscribed with quotations from his most famous speeches. The memorial is a site of reflection and has served as a backdrop for numerous historic events, including Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.
Jefferson Memorial
Designed by architect John Russell Pope, who also designed the National Archives building, this neoclassical tribute to Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, sits beside the Tidal Basin. Completed in 1943, the Jefferson Memorial is modeled after the Pantheon in Rome, reflecting Jefferson’s admiration for classical architecture and Enlightenment ideals.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Spanning 7.5 acres along the Potomac River, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial honors the only president elected to four terms in office. This unique outdoor space features waterfalls, sculptures, and quotations that reflect key moments in Roosevelt’s presidency, from the Great Depression to World War II.
Interestingly, during his life, FDR stated, “If any memorial is erected to me, I know exactly what I should like it to be. I should like it to consist of a block about the size of this [putting his hand on his desk] and placed in the center of that green plot in front of the Archives Building. I don’t care what it is made of, whether limestone or granite or whatnot, but I want it plain without any ornamentation, with the simple carving, ‘In Memory of ____.’” That plaque now sits at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Ninth Street NW, next to the National Archives building.
