Washington Monument

On July 4, 1848, the first cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on top of a hill donated by Congress. The trowel used by George Washington at the laying of the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol in 1793 was used on this occasion.

During the project, the Washington National Monument Society asked states and private organizations to donate stones for the construction of the Washington Monument. Construction progressed without problems until 1854, when a stone was donated by Pope Pius IX, an anti-catholic American party. In retaliation, the Know-Nothings stole the stone and took control of the society.

With the political dispute, the public became dissatisfied and the Know Nothings were not able to collect donations to finish the monument. As a result, control of the project was given back to the Washington National Monument Society in 1858. However, the Civil War brought construction of the Washington Monument to a halt. For almost 25 years, the monument stood incomplete at the height of only 150 feet.