<P> On September 23, 1835, the board of managers of the society described their expectations: </P> <P> It is proposed that the contemplated monument shall be like him in whose honor it is to be constructed, unparalleled in the world, and commensurate with the gratitude, liberality, and patriotism of the people by whom it is to be erected...(It) should blend stupendousness with elegance, and be of such magnitude and beauty as to be an object of pride to the American people, and of admiration to all who see it . Its material is intended to be wholly American, and to be of marble and granite brought from each state, that each state may participate in the glory of contributing material as well as in funds to its construction . </P> <P> The society held a competition for designs in 1836 . In 1845, the winner was announced to be architect Robert Mills . The citizens of Baltimore had chosen him to build a monument to Washington, and he had designed a tall Greek column surmounted by a statue of the President . Mills also knew the capital well, having just been chosen Architect of Public Buildings for Washington . His design called for a circular colonnaded building 250 feet (76 m) in diameter and 100 feet (30 m) high from which sprang a four sided obelisk 500 feet (150 m) high, for a total elevation of 600 feet (180 m). A massive cylindrical pillar 70 feet (21 m) in diameter supported the obelisk at the center of the building . The obelisk was to be 70 feet (21 m) square at the base and 40 feet (12 m) square at the top with a slightly peaked roof . Both the obelisk and pillar were hollow within which a railway spiraled up . The obelisk had no doorway--instead its interior was entered from the interior of the pillar upon which it was mounted . The pillar had an "arched way" at its base . The top of the portico of the building would feature Washington standing in a chariot holding the reins of six horses . Inside the colonnade would be statues of 30 prominent Revolutionary War heroes as well as statues of the signers of the Declaration of Independence . </P> <P> Criticism of Mills's design and its estimated price tag of more than $1 million (in 1848, equivalent to $20,000,000 in 2016) caused the society to hesitate . On April 11, 1848 the society decided, due to a lack of funds, to build only the obelisk . Mills's 1848 obelisk was to be 500 feet tall, 55 feet (17 m) square at the base and 35 feet (11 m) square at the top . It had two massive doorways, each 15 feet (4.6 m) high and 6 feet (1.8 m) wide, on the east and west sides of its base . Surrounding each doorway were raised jambs, a heavy pediment, and entablature within which was carved an Egyptian - style winged sun and asps . Some of these details can be seen in the 1860 photograph below at Donations run out, after clicking on the image and viewing the original file at its highest magnification . This original design conformed to a massive temple which was to have surrounded the base of the obelisk, but because it was never built, the architect of the second phase of construction Thomas Lincoln Casey smoothed down the projecting jambs, pediment and entablature in 1885, walled up the west entrance with marble forming an alcove, and reduced the east entrance to 8 feet (2.4 m) high . The western alcove has contained a bronze statue of Washington since 1992--93 . Also during 1992--93 a limestone surround was installed at the east elevator entrance decorated with a winged sun and asps to mimic Mills's 1848 design . </P>

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