Why did they have to stop building the Washington Monument?

Having always struggled to gather funding, the Society's change in administration alienated donors and drove the Society to bankruptcy by 1854. Without funds, work on the monument slowed to a halt.



Construction of the Washington Monument was halted for over 20 years (1854–1876) primarily due to lack of funds and political turmoil. The project was initially managed by a private society that relied on donations, which dried up due to the "Know-Nothing" party's controversial takeover of the society and the looming American Civil War. By 1854, the monument was only about 152 feet tall—a stump in the middle of a messy construction site. Work didn't resume until the 1870s when the federal government took over the project for the nation's centennial. This long pause is still visible today: the stone used when construction resumed came from a different quarry, causing the distinct "color change" or "ring" about one-third of the way up the monument.

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It took nearly 40 years to build a tribute to the first U.S. president. It was stalled by a lack of funds and, at one point, occupied by a political fringe group. Few structures represent the United States as powerfully as the Washington Monument.

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The Earthquake Damage occurred throughout the metropolitan Washington area, but the Washington Monument was among the significantly damaged structures. Check out the videos below to learn more about the earthquake, assessments and the repairs that followed.

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August 2, 1876 Congress appropriates $2 million in federal funds to complete the construction of the Washington Monument. The public funding is contingent upon the transfer of ownership of the monument from The Washington National Monument Society to the federal government.

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5 Things You Might Not Know About the Washington Monument
  • Plans for the monument began even before Washington was elected president. ...
  • The original design for the monument was much different than what ended up being built. ...
  • The monument was once the site of a hostage situation. ...
  • The monument has survived an earthquake.


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Scholars believe that obelisks represented eternity and immortality, and their long, tapering form functioned to connect the heavens and the earth. Their pinnacles were typically covered in gold to reflect the sunlight.

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One person (16+ years old) may obtain up to six tickets for an available ticket time. All visitors (including children ages 2+) must have a ticket to enter the Washington Monument. During peak season, tickets run out quickly. Expect a line to form at the ticket window wait long before the ticket window opens.

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Rather than ascend to 600 feet as Mills had intended in the original plan, Casey was persuaded to make the height of the structure ten times the width of the base, meaning the optimal height for the Washington Monument was 555 feet.

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The two sections closely resembled each other at first, but time, wind, rain, and erosion have caused the marble sections to weather differently, thereby producing the difference in color. A third type of marble is also visible at the dividing line between the two main phases of construction.

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On a breezy December 6, 1884, the 36-year construction of the Washington Monument was completed with the placing of an 8.9 inch tall, 100-ounce pyramid of solid aluminum atop the capstone.

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As the nation's tallest monument, the Gateway Arch has welcomed visitors for more than fifty years with its iconic, awe-inspiring shape. The vision of renowned architect Eero Saarinen, the Gateway Arch commemorates Thomas Jefferson's vision and St. Louis' role in the westward expansion of the United States.

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