Third Floor

In 1876, Thomas Casey, who was an Army engineer, took over the project after the monument's construction had been delayed for 2 decades with the monument standing 156 feet high. Finally in 1884 the monument commemorating George Washington was complete, 5 decades after the initial construction began.

When Casey took over the project, 1/4 of the monument had already been built, yet he had to redo the shaky foundation is was resting on. In order to do this, he removed large amounts of soil from underneath and around the foundation, quickly filling the holes with concrete. By doing this and using concrete buttresses he was able to join the old and new foundations together.

Rising 555 feet from the ground, the Washington Monument is the world's tallest masonry tower in the world. It was the world's tallest building for 5 years, until the Eiffel Tower was built. From the top of the tower one is able to see 35-60 miles, depending on the weather, that include 5 counties of 2 states and a federal district.

On Jan. 13, 1946, President Harry Truman became the first president to travel to the top of the monument. The 48 flags around the monument represent the 48 states that made up the USA in 1922. The flags were raised on Jan.22, 1922 in honor of George Washington's 190th birthday.

To learn more: www.nps.gov/warmo/monument/monument.htm