A Pictorial Tour of the Washington Monument (under renovation)
Underbelly staffers Eben Dennis and Joe Tropea were recently invited by Lance Humphries, chairman of the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy Restoration Committee, to tour the Washington Monument as work on the restoration project was winding down. Along with the many historical facts they learned, amazing views they took in, and vertigo they experienced, Dennis and Tropea came away with something neither expected: a profound respect and appreciation for scaffolding. JD Belfield Enterprises deserves to be commended for their fine work. Anyone in doubt should scroll down to see what used to pass for scaffolding as recently as the 1970s and ’80s.
Washington Monument under scaffolding on a beautiful August morning. (Photo by Joe Tropea, 2014.)
Our tour begins in the underbelly of the monument.
Underneath the Washington Monument. (Photo by Joe Tropea, 2014.)
We found some very interesting 19th century graffiti.
An aristocrat? Underneath the Washington Monument. (Photo by Joe Tropea, 2014.)
J.W. Hogg, 1829. One of many people who signed their names on this wall. Underneath the Washington Monument. (Photo by Joe Tropea, 2014.)
And then we saw this.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Underneath the Washington Monument. (Photo by Joe Tropea, 2014.)
Back to the surface where we take an elevator ride, but then still have to climb three stories to reach the top.
Washington Monument under scaffolding. Notice the remarkably sturdy elevator on the right. (Photo by Joe Tropea, 2014.)
It’s hard to imagine that this used to pass for safe scaffolding.
Washington Monument under repair, c. 1975-1985. Photo by Richard Childress, PP177.2112, MdHS.
Or this.
Washington Monument under repair, c. 1975-1985. Photo by Richard Childress, PP177.2111, MdHS.
All of the marble used on the monument was locally sourced. The base that the Washington statue sits on came from here:
Most of the marble came from General Charles Ridgely’s quarry in Hampton, but the 15 foot piece used to carve Washington came from Mrs. Taylor’s quarry.
Beaver Dam Quarry, c. 1910, photographer unknown. CC1003, MdHS. (Reference photo)
Closeup of Washington Monument. (Photo by Eben Dennis, 2014.)
The lightening rod attached to Washington’s head. (Photo by Joe Tropea, 2014.)
Top of the monument looking north. (Photo by Joe Tropea, 2014.)
View from the Washington Monument, looking south. (Photo by Joe Tropea, 2014.)