Washington Monument

The Washington Monument(also referred to as "The Pencil") is a large, tall, white obelisk near the west part of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It was built to remember George Washington, who was the first President of the United States. It is the tallest stone structure in the world, and is 555 feet 5⅛ inches (169.294 m) tall. The monument is made of marble, granite, and sandstone. History The monument was started in 1848, but was not finished until 1884 due to the American Civil War. Construction continued after the war ended, but the type of sandstone was changed. The monument opened on February 21, 1885 after 19 years total of construction. Plans of building the monument began even before Washington was elected president. Earthquake damage On Tuesday, August 23, 2011, the monument was cracked by an earthquake. A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern Virginia, about 135 km (84 mi) from Washington D.C. Cracks were found at the top of the monument, which was then closed for repair. It was re-opened in October 2019. There were early reports that the Monument was leaning. The National Park Service said that while there was damage, the Monument is not leaning. Visit Visitors to Washington, D.C., can tour the inside of the Washington Monument. There is an elevator which takes people to the top. From the top, it is possible to see the National Mall, the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial. References