Washington's Monuments

Most people recognize the very tall, white obelisk on the National Mall as the Washington Monument. But what is, perhaps, a well-kept secret is that it is not the first monument to honor our first president and father of our country, George Washington, but the THIRD!

For my family- ISTWM! ISIF! ISIF!

This Washington Monument was actually the last one to be completed despite there being many proposals for the monument shortly after the victory of the American Revolution. After Washington's death in 1799, Congress authorized a "suitable monument" in the national capital. That decision was overturned just two year years later when the Democratic Republicans (Jeffersonian Republicans) took control of Congress. Upset that Washington had become the symbol of the Federalist Party, the Republicans were also against building monuments to powerful men. Thus ensued many years of squabbling back and forth and nothing was done until the mid-19th century. Ahh...  some things never change!

Finally, in 1832 (the 100th anniversary of Washington's birth), a group of citizens formed the Washington National Monument Society and began fund-raising. Several years later, after acquiring  enough money to begin building, they held a competition  for the design. Robert Mills, an architect, won the competition and construction finally began in 1848. However, in 1854 funds ran out and construction stopped. After 25 agonizing years, construction resumed in 1879 after the Society altered the original plan (eliminating a colonnade and other ornate features) and Congress appropriated funds for its completion. The color difference in the stone about a third of the way up is due to an inability to get the same quarry stone when construction resumed.  It was finally completed in 1884 and opened to the public in 1888. Completing the Washington National Monument was a project that united North and South with their common admiration and love for George Washington. It stands 555 feet, 5⅛ inches tall and is made of marble, granite and sandstone. It is still the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk.

So where is the SECOND Washington Monument? Not in Virginia where he lived at his beloved Mount Vernon... but in Baltimore, Maryland!

This Washington Monument is in Mount Vernon Square Park in the upscale Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore.

A monument to honor George Washington in Baltimore, Maryland was proposed by Baltimore citizens in 1809 and a committee was formed to commission and fund the project. A series of six lotteries starting in 1811 (authorized by the Maryland General Assembly) eventually raised enough money to fund the project. A design competition was held in 1815 with none other than Robert Mills' design being chosen. Construction began on July 4th, 1815 and was completed in 1829 after several design changes simplifying the original design became necessary due to funding problems.

The monument, made of white marble from Cockeysville, Maryland, is 178 feet tall. The three sections include a rectangular base, a plain column and a standing figure of Washington clothed in a Roman toga. At one time, ships entering the harbor could see the monument; today skyscrapers block the view.

But surely the FIRST Washington Monument is in Virginia, right? Wrong! It is near the small town of Boonsboro in western Maryland.

This Washington Monument is located atop South Mountain in Washington Monument State Park. Regarding this monument, it has been said that, "As monuments go, none was ever built with purer or more reverent patriotism."

Early in the morning of July 4th, 1827 most of the 500 citizens of the small hamlet of Boonsboro gathered at the town square and began a two mike trek up South Mountain to the site they had selected to build a monument to honor "the Father of their Country." The Stars and Stripes rippled in the wind as the fife and drum corps played and spirits were high as everyone helped. Stone from outcroppings of granite were selected and since water was not available for mortar, the carefully cut stones were laid dry in a circular wall. They worked until noon and then held a dedication ceremony and ate lunch before resuming work. At 4:00 the monument stood 15 feet high on a circular base 54 feet in circumference. The day ended with a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a three round salute fired by three Revolutionary War veterans. Plans were made to finish the monument "after the busy season" and in September of that same year, it was completed, standing 34 feet tall. So, although the Washington Monument in Baltimore was started first, this was the first completed monument to honor our first president, a true American patriot.

Because the monument was originally built "dry," it did not stand up well against extreme weather and use. It was rebuilt twice (using mostly original stones), the last time in 1934. The Washington County Historical Society purchased the site in 1920 and later deeded it to the State of Maryland for use as a State Park in 1934. The Appalachian Trail runs by the base of the monument- and yes, we hiked on the Appalachian Trail! The interior steps lead to an observation platform from which you can see for miles and miles. It was used during the Civil War as both a look-out tower and a signal tower. The Battle at South Mountain was the first battle on northern soil and along with the battle at nearby Antietam, the bloodiest. Miraculously, the monument stood unscathed by the battle going on around it.

I think it is interesting that local, state and the federal government desired and even began planning monuments to the country's revered first president... but it was ordinary citizens that actually got the job done. Without the bureaucracy and bickering, they were able to accomplish what the governing bodies could not. Perhaps another lesson for us ?