Construction of the presidential memorial began in 1848. The construction was suspended from 1854 to 1877 due to funding challenges, a struggle for control over the Washington National Monument Society, and the American Civil War. The stone structure was completed in 1884, and the internal ironwork, the knoll, and installation of memorial stones was completed in 1888. A difference in shading of the marble, visible about or 27% up, shows where construction was halted and later resumed with marble from a different source. The original design was by Robert Mills from South Carolina, but construction omitted his proposed colonnade for lack of funds, and construction proceeded instead with a bare obelisk. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; the first stone was laid atop the unfinished stump on August 7, 1880; the capstone was set on December 6, 1884; the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885;Marking a people's love, an article from The New York Times published February 22, 1885. it opened on October 9, 1888.
construction of the presidential memorial began in 1848 the construction was suspended from 1854 to 1877 due to funding challenges a struggle for control over the washington national monument society and the american civil war the stone structure was completed in 1884 and the internal ironwork the knoll and installation of memorial stones was completed in 1888 a difference in shading of the marble visible about or 27% up shows where construction was halted and later resumed with marble from a different source the original design was by robert mills from south carolina but construction omitted his proposed colonnade for lack of funds and construction proceeded instead with a bare obelisk the cornerstone was laid on july 4 1848; the first stone was laid atop the unfinished stump on august 7 1880; the capstone was set on december 6 1884; the completed monument was dedicated on february 21 1885;marking a people's love an article from the new york times published february 22 1885 it opened on october 9 1888