One man was arrested after vandalizing the Washington Monument, which appeared covered in red paint and a statement attacking the US government.
Pictures of the vandalism on Tuesday night showed a slogan or statement attacking the US government, which was painted in red paint and included profanities, at the base of the structure.
It read: “Were you f ***** of this **** Governor says tough shit.” A splash of red paint was also visible.
Issuing an “alert” on Twitter, the United States Park Police (USPP) said it had taken a man into custody following his arrest at the monument, which was closed to the public following the vandalism.
“Area around base of Washington Monument temporarily closed,” the tweet read. “USPP has adult male in custody for vandalism. NPS conservationists will work on restoration process”.
It was not immediately clear if the man taken into custody would face charges. He, too, has not been identified.
According to NBC News, the monument mostly recently went under renovation from 2011-2014 after damage sustained by an earthquake. While in 2016-2019 an elevator inside the structure was modernized.
Since 1933, the National Park Service has had jurisdiction over the Washington Monument, which stands 169m tall above the National Mall and Washington DC.
What happened to the Washington Monument?

An earthquake in 2011 slightly damaged the monument, and it was closed until 2014. It was closed again for elevator system repairs, safety upgrades, and soil contamination mitigation from August 2016 to September 2019.
Why did the Washington Monument stop? Location of Washington Monument in Central Washington, D.C. Construction of the presidential monument began in 1848 and was stopped for a period of 23 years, from 1854 to 1877 due to a lack of funds, a struggle for control of the Washington National Monument Society, and the American Civil War.
Who vandalized the Washington Monument?
The U.S. Park Police identified the suspect as Shaun Ray Deaton, 44, of Bloomington, Indiana, and charged him with trespassing, trespassing and vandalism in connection with the incident, it said Wednesday.
What interrupted the building of the Washington Monument?
Work on the project was interrupted by political wrangling in the 1850s, and construction stopped entirely during the American Civil War. Finally, in 1876, Congress, inspired by the American centennial, passed legislation appropriating $200,000 for completion of the monument.
Why did the Washington Monument go dark?
Investigation into a temporary overnight blackout at the Washington Monument in D.C. revealed it was caused by a “faulty clock”, its handlers said.
Is the Washington Monument broken?
Washington Monument Earthquake Repairs Damage included more than 150 cracks in the interior and exterior of the monument as well as pieces of stone that were loose.
Is the Washington Monument fixed?
The Washington Monument has undergone over $10.7 million in repairs and renovations. The monument reopens on September 19. America’s most famous obelisk reopens to the public on Thursday after more than three years of construction of a new security facility and renovations to its elevator system.
Has the Washington Monument been damaged?
On August 23, 2011, the monument was damaged by a magnitude-5.8 earthquake. The most important damage was to the top of the monument, known as the pyramidion. Along the rest of the monument, masonry on all four sides also suffered damage.
Is there a Bible buried at Washington Monument?

The bible was one of the items found in the cornerstone time capsule of Baltimore’s Washington Monument. Two hundred years ago the first Washington Monument was built in Baltimore, and now, missing pieces of history from that original monument are being revealed.
How deep is the Washington Monument buried? The monument’s current foundation is 37 feet (11.3 m) thick, consisting of half of its original bluestone gneiss rubble encased in concrete. At the northeast corner of the foundation, 21 feet (6.4 m) below ground, is the marble cornerstone, including a zinc case filled with memorabilia.
What is buried under the Washington Monument?
Unknown to most passers-by, there is a 12-foot-tall replica of the Washington Monument under a manhole near the actual monument. Officially known as âBench Mark A,â this underground oddity is actually a Geodetic Control Point that is used by surveyors.
Is the Washington Monument part of a burial ground?
Which of the following landmarks is not part of a cemetery? And the answer: The Washington Monument. Photo courtesy: Alvesgaspar. Despite its name, the Washington Monument is not where US President George Washington was buried.
What was buried in the cornerstone of the Washington Monument?
At the ceremony (1848) there were 20,000 people, and a container that held copies of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and other objects was buried in the cornerstone.
What Scripture is on the Washington Monument?
Inscribed on the aluminum cap, notable names and dates in the construction of the monument are remembered, and on the eastern face, facing the rising sun, the Latin words “Laus Deo”, which translates to, “Praise be to God”.
Why is there a line on the Washington Monument?
The Washington Monument was built in two phases after the cornerstone was laid in 1848. The colored line shows where construction stopped in 1856, when private donations to finance the Monument dried up. Groups in charge of raising money argued over how the monument should represent George Washington and the nation.
What Bible verse is on Lincoln Memorial?
Even so, he refers to a passage from the Bible, “Judge not, lest we be judged.†To remind the people of the Union that some of the most guilty also falls on them.
What was found in the cornerstone of the Washington Monument?
Earlier this week, workers excavating around the base of the 180-foot monument uncovered the 200-year-old cornerstone — a hollow, near-perfect, 2-foot cube and time capsule — whose contents were officially revealed Wednesday.
What is inside the cornerstone of the Washington Monument?
The most important thing inside, Humphries says, was a copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed in the newspaper the day before the cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1815. Baltimoreans had just survived the War of 1812 and the United States had defeated the British. again.
Is there a Bible in the cornerstone of the Washington Monument?
Almost 50 years after Washington’s death, the cornerstone was laid for his monument. The stone was inserted with a box including a portrait of George Washington, a Bible, a map of the city, and a copy of the United States Constitution. It was inscribed with these words, â4th of July, 1848.
What is the religious meaning of the message on the Washington Monument?
So, what might those two words mean, in Latin, composed of only four syllables and only seven letters? Very simply, they say “Praise be to God!” [Laus is ‘Praise be’ and Deo means ‘God’].
What is written on Washington Monument?
On December 6, 1884, in Washington, D.C., workers place a nine-inch aluminum pyramid inscribed with “Laus Deo,” meaning praise (be) to God, on a tower of white marble, completing the construction of an impressive monument to the namesake of a city and the first president of the nation, George Washington.
What is the meaning of the Washington Monument?
The Washington Monument is an obelisk-shaped building inside the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army (1775–1784) in the American Revolutionary War and the first President of the United States (1789 -1797).
Why does the Washington Monument have a point at the top?

Such was the case with the small but very expensive aluminum pyramid that was placed on the Washington Monument upon its completion in 1884 to serve the functional purpose of a lightning rod. In retrospect, this can be considered a watershed event in the subsequent emergence of the modern massive aluminum industry.
Why is there a line on the Washington Monument? The Washington Monument was built in two phases after the cornerstone was laid in 1848. The colored line shows where construction stopped in 1856, when private donations to finance the Monument dried up. Groups in charge of raising money argued over how the monument should represent George Washington and the nation.
What is on the tip of the Washington Monument?
On December 6, 1884, the 36-year construction of the Washington Monument was completed with the placement of an 8.9-inch-tall, 100-ounce pyramid of solid aluminum on the capstone. Why not silver or gold?
Can you go to the tip of the Washington Monument?
Today, visitors to Washington, D.C. can tour the monument and visit it day or night, including climbing to the top of the obelisk. Although it is free and open to the public, guests must obtain tickets to tour the monument.
What can you see from the top of the Washington Monument?
What can you see from the top of the Washington Monument? D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are visible from the top of the Washington Monument.
Why is aluminum at the top of the Washington Monument?
“Aluminum was a perfect choice for the top of the monument—it was a good anti-light protector, it was strong, it wouldn’t tarnish, it resembled the color of the marble of the monument, and it was rare. It was also symbolic, because it would represent the very beginnings of the American aluminum industry.â
Why are the top and bottom of the Washington Monument different colors?
The two sections closely resembled each other at first, but time, wind, rain, and erosion caused the marble sections to weather differently, thus producing the difference in color. A third type of marble is also visible at the dividing line between the two main phases of construction.
Why is the top of the Washington Monument aluminum?
Thomas Lincoln Casey, aluminum was still $1.10 per ounce, the same as the then prevailing market price of silver, which was considered a precious metal. The US government wanted a precious metal cap for the monument, so it chose aluminum, and hired William Frishmuth of Philadelphia for the job.
Is the Washington Monument pointy at the top?
The pyramidion, the top 55 feet (17 m) of the monument, was originally designed with an 8.9-inch (23 cm) high inscribed aluminum apex that served as a single lightning rod, installed December 6, 1884.
What is at the top of Washington Monument?
That 9-inch aluminum pyramid that completes the top of the structure as it tapers to a point is 100-ounces of solid aluminum, part of the monument’s lightning protection system. In the 1880s, aluminum was a rare metal, selling for $1.10 per ounce and used mainly for jewelry.
How pointy is the top of the Washington Monument?
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Who owns the Washington Monument?

August 2, 1876 Congress appropriates $2 million in federal funds to complete the construction of the Washington Monument. The public financing depends on the transfer of ownership of the monument from The Washington National Monument Society to the federal government.
How much money is the Washington Monument? Although there is no admission fee for the Washington Monument, there is a $1.00 service charge per ticket to cover reservation service; these fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
Who is responsible for the Washington Monument?
The Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills and later completed by Thomas Casey and the US Army Corps of Engineers, honors and commemorates George Washington in the center of the nation’s capital. The structure was completed in two phases of construction, one private (1848-1854) and one public (1876-1884).
Who maintains the Washington Monument?
Located in the heart of the Nation’s Capital, NAMA manages, interprets, maintains and preserves the Washington Monument, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, D.C. War Memorial, World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans. Memorial, George Mason …
Did slaves build the Washington Monument?
In relation to the Washington Monument, it is most likely that some form of enslaved labor was used, based on the earlier construction of significant buildings and structures in Washington, such as the White House and U.S. Capitol Building, and the acceptance and regular of the federal government. use of enslaved workers.
What was the Washington Monument built for?
The Washington Monument is an obelisk-shaped building inside the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army (1775–1784) in the American Revolutionary War and the first President of the United States (1789 -1797).
What is buried under the Washington Monument?
Unknown to most passers-by, there is a 12-foot-tall replica of the Washington Monument under a manhole near the actual monument. Officially known as âBench Mark A,â this underground oddity is actually a Geodetic Control Point that is used by surveyors.
What are 5 facts about the Washington Monument?
10 fascinating facts about the Washington Monument
- James Madison had an early role in getting the monument project started. …
- The first monument design featured a rotunda and a Roman-like George Washington. …
- The masons and the pope were involved with the monument. …
- Abraham Lincoln was at the 1848 cornerstone ceremony.
How many years did it take for the Washington Monument to be built?
The iconic Washington Monument celebrates its birthday today. Learn how it took 40 years to complete the project, and the surprising connections it has to the Pope, Abraham Lincoln, and the Constitution. The Washington Monument was officially dedicated on February 21, 1885.
How long was the Washington Monument unfinished?
But when the obelisk was about 156 feet tall, the Society lost support and funding. The monument stood incomplete and untouched for 20 years. Finally, in 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (U. S. Army Corps of Engineers) to finish the project.
When was the Washington Monument built and finished?
How big was the earthquake that cracked the Washington Monument?

At 1:51 p.m. on August 23, 2011, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck 90 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. Visitors inside the observation deck of the Washington Monument were thrown around by the force of the shaking; falling mortar and pieces of stone caused minor injuries, although all the people inside got out safely.
How long did the DC earthquake last? “I always say that earthquake lasted 58 seconds,” Alonso said. “If it had lasted two or three more seconds, we would have had a lot more damage.” Repairs have been made to the pulpit over the past 10 years. Alonso estimated that the earthquake caused about $34 million in damage.
What caused severe damage to Washington Monument?
On August 23, 2011, the Washington Monument sustained damage during the 5.8 magnitude 2011 Virginia earthquake; more than 150 cracks were found in the monument.
What caused significant damage to Washington Monument?
On Tuesday, August 23, 2011, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred 84 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., damaging the Washington Monument.
What cracked the Washington Monument?
The earthquake did not cause widespread damage or injuries, but it did put a crack in the Washington Monument.
Was the Washington Monument damaged by an earthquake?
On Tuesday, August 23, 2011, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred 84 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., damaging the Washington Monument.
Was the Washington Monument damaged?
Washington Monument Earthquake Repairs Damage included more than 150 cracks in the interior and exterior of the monument as well as pieces of stone that were loose.
What cracked the Washington Monument?
The earthquake did not cause widespread damage or injuries, but it did put a crack in the Washington Monument.
What cracked the Washington Monument?
The earthquake did not cause widespread damage or injuries, but it did put a crack in the Washington Monument.
What caused the Washington Monument to crack?
Researchers are analyzing seismic shaking beneath the nation’s capital to better predict damage to federal buildings and monuments from future earthquakes. Their study was sparked by the 2011 Virginia earthquake, a magnitude-5.8 thing that cracked the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral.