Washington Monument Concept - History Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 1225 words ( 4 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 3

Page 1 of 4

"

Federal Writers' Project 92)

Engineering concerns finally won the day and even today there are still structural concerns about the location of the monument so close to sea level only 40 feet up from banks of the Potomac River. There are still times when portions of the park are under water and occasionally the monument area itself is inundated with flooding. The footing was difficult to locate, for a building project of its weight and size.

Federal Writers' Project 18) There were times in the interim of the twenty years it took to complete where many believed it was a dead project.

Federal Writers' Project 53) Though cornerstone for the monument had been laid many years before (1884) and the structure was begun as a shaft the new designer engineer created an Egyptian style obelisk that lacked any external ornamentation,

Federal Writers' Project 322) at his desire and the building commenced utilizing many men and materials to complete the structure.

Senie and Webster 24)

It is not only ironic but also somehow troubling that a monument designed covertly, against enormous opposition, should so neatly reconcile so many competing ideals ancient tradition and modern technology, republican values and national progress, communal harmony and individual enterprise.

Senie and Webster 26)

The building was completed finally completed and, "On February 21, 1885, Robert Winthrop, who had delivered the formal address at the laying of the cornerstone 37 years before, dedicated the Washington Monument. On October 9, 1888, it was opened to the public. More than a century had passed since its inception."

(Federal Writers' Project 322)

The dimensions of the monument are as follows:

Height of Monument above floor, 555 feet 5 ? inches.

Stuck Writing Your "Washington Monument Concept - History" Term Paper?

View All Our Example Washington Monument Concept - History Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written



Side of base of shaft, 55 feet 1 1/2 inches.

Side of top of shaft, 34 feet 5 1/2 inches.

Thickness of walls at base of shaft, 15 feet.

Thickness of walls at top of shaft, 18 inches.

Depth of foundation, 36 feet 10 inches.

Area foundation (126 feet 6 inches square), 16,002 square feet.

Weight of foundations, 36,912 tons.

Weight of Monument, 81,120 tons.

Maximum pressure on soil, 9 tons per square foot.

Federal Writers' Project 322)

The building had created as much controversy as it created pride, and its completion took a substantially longer time than had ever been envisioned by its creators and those who debated over its final product.

In 1996 a movement began to restore the monument, as it had deteriorated considerably over the years since its beginning. The restoration project was in fact led by a business (target) who dedicated a million dollars to a foundation to restore the monument and the restoration took several years of fundraising and building 1996-2000.

The exterior renovations will focus on replacing mortar -- the first time since 1935 -- and repairing cracked and chipped stones, repointing exterior and interior joints and cleaning the stones. The mortar will be the same sand-and-cement mix used when construction began on July 4, 1848....Construction crews already have completed interior work on the elevator system and upgrades on the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems. The observation levels at the 490- and 500-foot levels of the monument will be refurbished and a glass elevator and new education exhibits will be added starting in 1999.

Reiter 41)

Even the restoration went on with controversy, as many argued about the nature of.....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Washington Monument Concept - History" (2007, November 13) Retrieved June 4, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/washington-monument-concept-history-34383

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Washington Monument Concept - History" 13 November 2007. Web.4 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/washington-monument-concept-history-34383>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Washington Monument Concept - History", 13 November 2007, Accessed.4 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/washington-monument-concept-history-34383
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example