Washington Monument

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/washington-monument

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Washington Monument built?1884
2. How tall is Washington Monument?555 feet 7+11/32 inches (169.046 meters)
3. What is the location?National Mall, Washington, D.C
4. What is the material?Bluestone gneiss foundation, granite and white marble facing
5. Why was the Washington Monument built?It was built to honor George Washington and show America's ideals. It also served as a symbol of American ambition after the Civil War.
6. How did the construction of the Washington Monument stop and then finish?Construction started in 1848 but stopped in 1854 because of money problems and the Civil War. It restarted in 1877 and finished in 1884, opening to the public in 1888.

Obelisk: A tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top.
Pyramidion: The uppermost part of an obelisk, shaped like a small pyramid, often capped with metal.
Colonnade: A row of columns supporting a roof or entablature, often forming a porch or walkway.
Gneiss: A type of metamorphic rock, often used in construction for its durability.