Construction began on the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., in 1848.
The monument was planned as a memorial to George Washington, the first president of the United States and a leading figure in the American Revolution. Architect Robert Mills designed the original project, which envisioned a large classical structure surrounding a tall obelisk. Financial limitations eventually led to the simpler obelisk form seen today.
Construction stalled in 1854 after funding problems and political disputes. Work resumed in 1877 under the United States Army Corps of Engineers, using marble from a different quarry than the first phase. The change in stone is visible as a color difference in the monument.
The Washington Monument was topped out in 1884, dedicated in 1885, and opened to the public in 1888. At 555 feet, it was the world’s tallest structure until the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889.