LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Washington Monument: George Washington
built 401 days ago
![[Cover photo] Washington Monument at sunset](http://retrieverimages.lycos.com/images/w/a/s/washington-monument/i/004.jpg)
[A]ppearance and location are not the only reasons that the Washington Monument is one of the country's most recognizable structures. Its prominence comes ... because it commemorates George Washington, who remains one of the country's most admired leaders more than two centuries after his death. The history of the monument reflects his contributions to the development of the United States and shows how Americans have debated the best way to honor important citizens.
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The Washington Monument is a 555ft/169m tall obelisk built between 1848 and 1884 in honor of the first President of the United States, George Washington. It is the tallest free standing masonry structure in the world.
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The Washington Monument, built at intervals between 1848 and 1885 with funds from public subscriptions and Federal appropriations, memorializes George Washington's achievements and unselfish devotion to principle and to country. It shows the gratitude of the people of the United States to the father of their country and their living faith in the causes for which he stood.
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Construction of this magnificent Washington, DC, monument took nearly a century of planning, building, and controversy. Provision for a large equestrian statue of George Washington was made in the original city plan, but the project was soon dropped. After Washington's death it was taken up again, and a number of false starts and changes of design were made. Finally, in 1848, work was begun on the monument that stands today. The design, by architect Robert Mills, then featured an ornate base. In 1854... political squabbling and a lack of money brought construction to a halt.
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In 1833 the Washington National Monument Society was organized for the purpose of erecting a great National Memorial to George Washington. Five years later, plans calling for an elaborate Greek Doric rotunda at the base of an Egyptian-style obelisk were drawn up by architect Robert Mills. Actual construction did not begin until 1848. By the time the monument was completed, Mills' design was simplified to the austere marble and granite obelisk that exists today. Due to many delays and complications, the monument did not open to the public until 1888.
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While movements to commemorate Washington in a heroic fashion had been underway even while he was president, it was only in 1833 that the Washington National Monument Society was formed by Congress. Part of the reason for this was Washington's modesty. While President, he convinced Congress to use the nation's precarious resources on more important things than paying tribute to him. Originally, Congress planned to honor Washington with an equestrian statue. In 1833... the focus The job of the Society was simple, to construct the largest monument in the world to the most prominent figure in American History. The Society resolved to erect a monument "Whose dimensions and magnificence shall be commensurate with the greatness and gratitude of the nation which gave [George Washington] birth [and] whose splendor will be without parallel in the world."
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