Washington Monument - Interrupted Construction and Height

The Washington Monument's cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; construction halted in the 1850s and resumed later in the 1870s, with the obelisk completed in 1884. It rises 555 feet 5 1/8 inches, making it the tallest predominantly stone structure and tallest obelisk in the world. A visible change in the exterior stone color marks the period when construction was paused and later resumed.