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Unfinished Washington Monument in 1877 from the Smithsonian

The Washington Monument sat unfinished for decades. This 1877 view from the Smithsonian Castle shows the stump, looking west toward the Potomac.

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1877 view of the Washington Monument under construction as seen from the Tower of the Smithsonian (now the Smithsonian Castle)
1877 view of the Washington Monument under construction as seen from the Tower of the Smithsonian (now the Smithsonian Castle)

Many of you know that the Washington Monument sat unfinished for decades, an eye-sore of a stump on what would become the National Mall. Here is what it looked like in 1877, as seen from the Smithsonian Castle, so you’re looking west towards the Potomac.

1877 view of the Washington Monument under construction as seen from the Tower of the Smithsonian (now the Smithsonian Castle)
1877 view of the Washington Monument under construction as seen from the Tower of the Smithsonian (now the Smithsonian Castle) (National Park Service)
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Topics1870s · Washington Monument

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