ClassX Video Lessons Washington Monument for Kids | Learn the history behind the largest obelisk in the world
Hey there! Are you ready to learn about a super cool place called the Washington Monument? It’s a famous landmark, and we’re going to explore it together. Let’s dive in!
The Washington Monument is a giant structure built to honor George Washington, who was the very first president of the United States. It’s over 500 feet tall and is located in Washington, D.C. Some people think it looks like a “giant pencil” because of its shape!
The monument was designed by a man named Robert Mills and was built between 1848 and 1884. That’s a long time! It was created to celebrate George Washington’s leadership during the American Revolutionary War.
The Washington Monument is an obelisk. That means it’s a tall, skinny, four-sided pillar with a pointy top like a pyramid. When it was finished, it was the tallest building in the world and weighed a whopping 91,000 tons!
The idea to build the monument started way back in 1783. But it wasn’t until 1883 that a group called the Washington National Monument Society picked a design. Building it was tricky because they ran into problems with money and design changes. The Civil War also slowed things down.
Finally, in 1876, the Army Corps of Engineers took over, and they finished the monument in 1884. Because of the long break in construction, the stones used are different colors!
Inside, there’s an elevator and a spiraling staircase with more than 800 steps! The walls have over 190 stones with carvings from different cities, states, and even countries.
The elevator used to be powered by steam and took about 20 minutes to reach the top. Now, it only takes 60 seconds!
At the very top, there are eight windows and some lights to warn airplanes. From up there, you can see about 25 miles in every direction! You can spot other famous places like the White House and the U.S. Capitol.
People from all over the world come to see this amazing structure. It’s the tallest stone structure and obelisk in the world. Even though it took a long time to build, it stands as a reminder of America’s history and its first president, George Washington.
Let’s see what you remember:
Great job! The Washington Monument is a fascinating piece of history. We hope you enjoyed learning about it. Thanks for joining us on this adventure!
Build Your Own Monument: Gather some building blocks, clay, or any materials you have at home. Try to build your own version of the Washington Monument. Think about its shape and height. Once you’re done, share your creation with your family and explain why the Washington Monument is special.
Monument Observation Walk: Take a walk around your neighborhood or a nearby park. Look for tall structures or interesting buildings. How do they compare to the Washington Monument? Are there any that remind you of an obelisk? Draw a picture of what you see and share it with your class.
Imagine the View: Pretend you are at the top of the Washington Monument. What do you think you would see? Write a short story or draw a picture of the view from the top. Include famous landmarks you might spot, like the White House or the U.S. Capitol.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
[Music]
Welcome to our exploration of the Washington Monument!
Do you recognize this famous landmark? It is the Washington Monument, and we are going to learn more about it together. Let’s get started!
The Washington Monument was built to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States. It stands over 500 feet tall and is located in Washington, D.C. Sometimes referred to as the “giant pencil,” the Washington Monument was designed by Robert Mills and constructed between 1848 and 1884 as a tribute to Washington’s military leadership during the American Revolutionary War.
Here’s an interesting fact: the Washington Monument is an obelisk, which means it is a tall, thin, four-sided pillar with a pyramid on top. When it was completed, it was the tallest building in the world and weighs an estimated 91,000 tons—quite heavy!
The history of this monument dates back to 1783 when members of the Continental Congress suggested the idea of building a monument in George Washington’s honor. In 1883, the Washington National Monument Society was founded to select a design for the memorial.
Construction began in 1848, but there were problems from the very beginning, including design changes and funding issues. The Civil War further delayed progress. Finally, in 1876, the Army Corps of Engineers took over construction. Due to a 22-year gap in construction, it was impossible to match the stone color, resulting in the monument being made from three different colors of stone.
Construction ended in 1884, 36 years after it began, and the monument was officially dedicated by President Chester Arthur on February 21, 1885.
Inside the monument, there is an elevator in the center with a spiraling staircase of more than 800 iron steps. The walls feature over 190 carved stones donated by various cities, states, individuals, and countries.
Another interesting fact: the elevator was originally powered by steam, taking around 20 minutes to reach the top. Today, it only takes 60 seconds!
The top pyramid has eight observation windows—two on each side—and eight aircraft warning lights. There are also two aluminum lightning rods on top of the structure.
From the top of the monument, you can see around 25 miles in all directions, including other famous landmarks like the White House, the U.S. Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Washington National Cathedral.
Today, tourists from all over the world visit this architectural marvel, which remains the tallest stone structure and tallest obelisk in the world.
Now that we know some fun facts about the Washington Monument, let’s see what you remember!
True or False: Construction of the Washington Monument went very quickly.
– False! It took over 36 years and two different phases of construction to complete.
Because of its shape, the Washington Monument is sometimes referred to as the “giant pencil.”
What kind of power was first used for the elevator inside the Washington Monument?
– Steam!
Great job, everyone! The Washington Monument is one of the most famous and recognizable landmarks in the United States and the world. Even though it took a long time to complete, it now stands as a reminder of the rich history of the country and its first president, George Washington.
We hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learnbrite.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers. Thank you!
