U.S.A. - Northeast & Middle Atlantic Architecture, American Revolution - Biography, Washington, D.C. - History, Presidents of the United States - Biography, U.S. - Individual Buildings & Designs, U.S.A. - Colonial & Federal Architecture, 18th Century Amer

The Washington Monument : It Stands for All

Name: The Washington Monument : It Stands for All
Author: Thomas B. Allen
ISBN: 9781563319211

by Thomas B. Allen

Write a review

Overview

The Washington Monument dominates not only the skyline of the nation's capital but also the iconography of the country itself. From its conception (the result of a Continental Congress that wanted to honor a reluctant general) to its completion after nearly a century of stop-and-go planning and construction, the story of the Monument involves virtually every major political figure of America's first century. Since the Monument's dedication, its grounds have become a national font yard on which a host of historical events have unfolded—a place where soldiers have assembled since the Civil War, where Vietnam War protesters gathered in the 1960s, and where the nation celebrates its independence each Fourth of July.

The Washington Monument: It Stands for All offers a unique look at the Washington Monument, the worlds tallest freestanding masonry structure. It takes readers where visitors cannot go, depicting the 193 memorial stones that grace its internal walls and using cutaway drawings to explain its construction. From the political intrigue surrounding its construction to the dramatic events that have taken place in its shadow, no stone is left unturned in this comprehensive tribute to our national icon.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

Library Journal

The Washington Monument is a grand symbol honoring a grand man. Hero of the Revolutionary War, father of our country, and our first President, Washington, the man, needs no further elaboration. The monument, however, is a different story, and Allen captures it in this thoroughly illustrated book, published to coincide with the reopening of the monument in early July after a two-year renovation. It will also coincide with a TV special on the Discovery Channel. Allen provides a brief biographical sketch of Washington; a chronology of the construction of the monument, which took almost 100 years; and background on events centering on and around the monument, Pierre Charles L'Enfant's plans for the city, and the evolution of the monument itself. No one who has visited Washington, DC, and seen the Capitol Mall with its important buildings and various monuments will want to miss this book. Highly recommended for all libraries.--Thomas K. Fry, Univ. of Denver, Penrose Lib. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\