The Washington Monument was erected to honor the greatness of the city of Washington, originally. A monumental task beginning with the laying of the cornerstone on July 4, 1843, the Monument wasn't completed until December 6, 1884.

In 1833, Congress authorized the construction of the Washington Monument. The actual construction did not begin until year of 1848. Robert Mills, the architect who designed the 555 foot tall monument was hired by the privately owned and funded Washington National Monument Society to design a great column with a colonnade at its base. In 1854, for reasons unknown, members of a controversial government Party gained control of the Washington National Monument Society. For almost 25 years building came to a complete halt.

In 1876, frustrated that the nation's tribute to George Washington was still incomplete during the Centennial year. The president convinced the Washington National Monument Society to donate the project to the people of the United States, allowing Congress to appropriate public funding for the monuments creation. Construction resumed in 1878. The exterior was completed in 1884. It was finally opened to the public in 1888. With fifty flags surrounding the base of the Monument, one to symbolize each state in the Union, people could finally go up and see this great memorial of ours.