Was the Washington Monument built by slaves? For starters, Washington State is a concealed gem on the western coast of the United States.
Annually, Seattle receives nearly 40 million visitors, making the tourism industry the fourth largest sector in the city.
There are numerous reasons to make Washington State your next vacation destination, including the glaciers, historical sites such as Mount St. Helens, and iconic structures like the Space Needle.
One of the top attractions in Washington State is the Washington Monument. Join us as we explore the well-known landmark and seek answers to whether slaves built it.
Was the Washington Monument built by Slaves?
No, the monument wasn’t entirely built by slaves, but they provided labor during the early days of construction.
The construction of the Washington Monument began in 1848. It was associated with the exploitation of enslaved individuals, according to multiple historical accounts.
Notwithstanding the absence of tangible evidence (e.g., receipts, log books, or payment records), it is noteworthy that scholarly investigations into the historical aspects of slavery are often subject to assumptions.
What Sparked The Debate?
A hand gesture, not even a sentence, provides one of the most hilarious moments in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Spidey—or, more precisely, Peter Parker—arrives in Washington, D.C., for the academic decathlon competition around the film’s midpoint.
The vulture attacks the squad as they ride the elevator in the Washington Monument. Michelle (Zendaya), on the other hand, declares that she will not enter a structure that slaves constructed.
In response to her coach, Martin Starr’s assertion that slaves did not build the monument. A security officer merely nods his hand and murmurs, “Eh, sort of.”
So, who’s right, the coach or Michelle?
George Washington became a slaveholder at the age of eleven, and by the time he passed away in 1799, he owned over 300 enslaved Africans. As per multiple sources, the Washington Monument’s construction commenced in 1848 with the assistance of enslaved Africans in labor capacities.
Due to a lack of funds, construction was halted in 1854; however, it was resumed in 1877 and completed in 1888.
The Monument recounts a multifaceted narrative concerning slavery and freedom while serving as a memorial to the nation’s first president.
John Steele Gordon, the author of “Washington’s Monument and the Fascinating History of the Obelisk,” is an authority on the Washington Monument. His in-depth knowledge and expertise shed light on this iconic structure.
Although he concedes that slavery was still lawful in the District of Columbia at the time construction of the monument commenced in 1848 (local enslaved people were liberated in 1862), he remains unconvinced that they constructed the structure.
“I cannot tell with certainty, but the stonemasonry was quite good; therefore, slaves would not have attempted it. It takes a highly experienced labor force to cut the stones, and stonecutters perform that task.
Furthermore, proficient engineers and foremen were required to operate the steam engines that lifted the stones. Maintaining the steam engine and installing the cast-iron staircase were not menial tasks.”
Nevertheless, numerous enslaved individuals labored as expert laborers during the antebellum period in America.
Enslaved individuals did perform stonemason work. Thus, the possibility persists that slaves performed some of the specialist labor required to construct the monument.
While the existence of enslaved individuals performing the initial labor that enabled the construction of the Washington Monument is unsubstantiated, they were probably involved in its construction. Is that a sufficient justification to forego a field trip?
Building The Washington Monument
Despite being designed by the renowned American architect Robert Mills of the 19th century, the Washington Monument’s construction also demonstrates the technical expertise and aesthetic discernment of Army Corps engineer Thomas Lincoln Casey.
Casey was tasked with its completion. Amid the political and economic instability of the mid-20th century, a stalled construction campaign produced the highest skyscraper of its era—an enduring American landmark during Casey’s administration.
It took two phases to construct the monument: from 1848 to 1858 and from 1878 to 1885, for the second phase.
After twelve years, construction did not begin after the Washington National Monument Society selected Mills’ design in 1836.
The monument’s establishment on public land within the city was sanctioned by a Congressional resolution in 1848.
The Society selected by the Society was close to the intersection of the north-south axis, traversed through the White House, and the east-west axis via the Capitol.
June 1848 saw the commencement of foundation construction, while July 4th saw the placement of the cornerstone. Development ceased entirely in 1858, following a significant deceleration in 1854.
Construction persisted with governmental oversight in October 1878, culminating in the placing of a second cornerstone on August 7, 1880.
The ultimate aesthetic of the structure undergoes a subtle yet conspicuous alteration in coloration during its construction. This is due to substituting materials, consistent with this sporadic progression pattern.
The monument’s dedication took place on February 21, 1885, following the laying of the capstone on December 6, 1884. In the years that followed, substantial expansions and transformations occurred.
The Washington Monument, which has come to represent the city symbolically, is a popular travel destination and a frequent site of demonstrations and rallies.
Slaveholders and the general populace once again regarded enslaved individuals as possessions; as a result, they contributed little to the nation’s physical and cultural development. Historiographers may still establish connections based on the data at their disposal.
Given the prior establishment of notable towers and structures in Washington, including the White House and U.S. Capitol Building, it is highly probable that the Washington Monument involved some form of enslaved labor.
As the history of slavery expands to incorporate new materials—including descendant testimonies, family documents, and oral histories—the connection between slavery and the Washington Monument is still the subject of ongoing research.
Honoring The Country’s Father
In granting financial support for constructing an equestrian statue honoring Washington, the Continental Congress first suggested the idea of a memorial to the nation’s military commander in 1783.
In 1791, Pierre-Charles L’Enfant reserved the precise surveyed center of the original District of Columbia for such a stately monument on direct axes with the White House (to the north) and the United States Capitol (to the west).
The Washington Monument was constructed in remembrance of George Washington, the inaugural President of the United States and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
It once surpassed 555 feet in height and was the tallest structure on earth. The monument honoring the nation’s inaugural President remains the world’s tallest stone structure and obelisk.
The military and political understanding of George Washington were indispensable to the formation of the United States.
Serving as the commander of the Continental Army, he rallied individuals from thirteen distinct states and prevailed over the more formidable British military force.
Washington’s exemplary leadership during his inaugural term set the standard for all subsequent presidents.
The Washington Monument elevated above the metropolis that shares his name, serves as a magnificent testament to the ingenuity that was George Washington.
Pierre L’Enfant incorporated a strategic placement for a George Washington monument at the intersection of lines emanating south from the White House and west of the Capitol in his initial blueprint for the streets and green spaces of Washington, D.C.
Established in 1833, the Washington National Monument Society was a private organization whose mission was to finance and erect an “unrivaled in the world” monument to the nation’s first president.
The Society solicited funds and designs for a decade before selecting Robert Mills’s creation in 1845. Mills suggested using thirty 100-foot columns encircling a 600-foot obelisk in the Egyptian manner.
Because of the design’s audacity, ambition, and high cost, numerous complications arose during construction.
The observation platform offers a panoramic view extending in all directions for more than 25 miles, encompassing notable landmarks such as the Washington National Cathedral, the United States Capitol, and Arlington National Cemetery.
The reopening of the Washington Monument in 2019, accompanied by an advanced elevator system, which will effectively elevate hundreds of visitors to the observation deck daily, has significantly raised tourist anticipations following years of restoration.
A video produced by the National Park Service provides an account of the one-minute ascent to the top of the world’s tallest freestanding stone structure, detailing the sights and experiences that visitors can anticipate.
This includes the United States Capitol, the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, and Washington National Cathedral; the observation platform provides a panoramic view extending in all directions for more than 25 miles.
A portion of the historical significance of elevator travel stems from the opportunity to observe the interior walls.
They are adorned with stones erected by states, civic organizations, and others to remember George Washington.
The improved mechanism enables personnel of the National Park Service to operate the lift more efficiently from the ground.
Before getting into the newly installed elevator, visitors are introduced to an upgraded security inspection facility at the Washington Monument’s base, which represents an additional change in the ascent process.
The new security structure features a more modern screening apparatus and can accommodate up to twenty guests.
Slaves Are Believed To Have Supplied Labor
The construction of the Washington Monument spanned four decades due to financial constraints, project management complications, and the Civil War.
Dozens of wealthy individuals contributed to the initiative, including plantation owners from the South. Thereby ensuring that the funds raised did not contribute to maintaining slave labor.
The US Geological Survey reports that the preponderance of the Monument’s marble was extracted from three quarries: two in Maryland and one in Massachusetts.
Conclusion
Was the Washington Monument built by slaves? In contrast to the White House and the Capitol, there is indisputable evidence that slaves were transported to Washington, D.C.
Solely to construct the monument commemorating our country’s first president. Nonetheless, in numerous ways, their endeavors were instrumental in rendering it feasible.
Despite undergoing consecration in 1885, the monument did not acquire public access until 1888. Since its construction, hundreds of thousands of individuals have set foot on the summit, and an even more significant number have utilized the structure as a reference point.
Countless events have transpired on the National Mall, and the Washington Monument serves as more than a mere memorial to our nation’s first president.
