Snapshots of the Past

Men working on pyramidal monument capstone above river – Vintage Print

Men working on pyramidal monument capstone above river — historic image
Men working on pyramidal monument capstone above river. Historic image from the Washington Monument collection.

(Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

Men working on pyramidal monument capstone above river comes to life in this historic image, reproduced from the original with every detail intact. It is part of the Snapshots of the Past archive, gathered over 25 years of research.

The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. It brings character to any room and makes a memorable gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Since 2001, Snapshots of the Past has shipped historic prints to tens of thousands of customers around the world.

Men working on pyramidal monument capstone above river

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Workers are shown placing the capstone at the top of the Washington Monument, with the Potomac River visible below, a view that captures the final stage of the obelisk's long construction. Work stopped in 1854 when funds ran short and the shaft stood unfinished for about a quarter century. Construction resumed in 1879 with a different design for the stone, and the top was set in December 1884. The pyramidion, the monument's point, was the last piece placed, and the moment marked the completion of a project that had been the nation's tallest structure since its completion.

Original scan5,965 × 4,306 px · prints to 20 × 14 in at 300 dpi
Reference28320u completing the monument

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Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.

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