The Washington Monument, the most prominent structure in Washington, D.C., reopened to the public yesterday after being closed for repairs from damage caused by the 5.8 magnitude earthquake on August 23, 2011!

The 555-foot, 5-1/8″ marble obelisk was built between 1848 and 1884 as a tribute to George Washington’s military leadership from 1775-1783 during the American Revolution. He led the Continental Army to victory, and then became the nation’s first president under the Constitution. Construction took place in two major phases, 1848-56, and 1876-84. The monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885, and officially opened to the public on October 9, 1888. http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc72.htm

Washington Monument National Park Homepage: http://www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm

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