Information Panel: Washington: The Man, The Monument, The City-1

Interpretive Panel, Washington, The Man

Quick Facts

Amenities

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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Washington: The Man

George Washington shaped the United States in both war and peace. He led the Continental Army against the British in the American Revolution. After eight long years, his small force defeated the world's strongest military. The new nation looked to Washington as a unifying figure, electing him the first President of the United States of America. Washington helped define the presidency by leaving office after two terms, setting the precedent of a peaceful transition of power.
"He was, indeed, in every sense of the words, a wise, a good, and a great man."
Thomas Jefferson, January 2, 1814

Washington: The Monument

The Washington Monument honors George Washington, hero of the American Revolution and the first president of the United States. When this stunning stone obelisk was completed in 1884, it was the tallest building in the world. Today the monument towers over Washington, DC, reminding us of Washington's life and legacy.
Just the Facts
Height: 555 feet, 5 1/8 inches
Steps: 896
Stones: about 36,000
Weight: 81,000 tons (as much as 6,480 school buses)
150 feet up the stones change color because they came from different quarries during two construction periods.

Washington: The City

George Washington shaped many aspects of the nation's capital. He championed placing the capital along the Potomac River then personally selected the site. He chose architect Pierre L'Enfant to design the city. L'Enfant envisioned a capital with symbolically-placed key buildings, a cross-grid street system with intersections for future commemorative sites. At its center, L'Enfant planned a grand space known as the Mall, with houses of government perched on its edges and a monument to George Washington at its cross-axis. The basic concepts of L'Enfant's design still can be seen today.