The Washington Monument is an obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first U.S president. It stands due east of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial.
Construction of the monument began in 1848, was halted from 1854 to 1877, and was finally completed in 1884. The hiatus in its construction was due of a lack of funding and the American Civil War. Its original design was by architect Robert Mills, but his design was modified significantly when construction resumed. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; the capstone was set on December 6, 1884, and the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885. It officially opened October 9, 1888. Upon completion, it became the world's tallest structure, a title previously held by the Cologne Cathedral. The monument held this designation until 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris, France. Made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, it is the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, standing at 555 feet tall.
History[]
Olympus Has Fallen[]
The Washington Monument was seen during the air attack by men working for Kang Yeonsak, the leader of a paramilitary terrorist group called the Koreans for United Freedom. Kang's pilots, flying a Lockheed AC-130, attacked Washington, D.C. After a F-22 Raptor shot down the AC-130, it's wing clipped the Washington Monument before crashing. The top part of the monument collapsed, killing several tourists in the vicinity. The White House was taken over by Kang and his men after the monument collapsed.
Reconstruction[]
Some time after the attack and Secret Service agent Mike Banning's successful rescue of President Benjamin Asher, the Washington Monument was seen being rebuilt during which soldiers raised a new American flag on the flagpole of the White House. Before 2016, the Washington Monument was completely rebuilt.
Behind the Scenes[]
Appearances[]
Olympus Has Fallen (First appearance)
London Has Fallen
Angel Has Fallen