Build Your Own Adventure: Army Corps of Engineers

About This Activity

Build Your Own Adventure: Washington Monument is an fun, online activity to learn more about what it took to build the Washington Monument. You choose what to do at each stage and discover the fascinating real-life twists and turns in the history of building this iconic monument to George Washington. 

Start at the beginning or continue with your adventure on this page. 

Original foundation of the Washington Monument

NPS

You Chose: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Turning the job of finishing the Washington Monument over to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers is a wise choice. George Washington himself was responsible for appointing engineer officers to the Army during the American Revolution. In 1802, the Army created the Corp of Engineers as a separate branch. Since then, the Corp has been instrumental in planning and building infrastructure throughout the country. (Learn more about the history of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers immediately get to work. Lt. Colonel Thomas Lincoln Casey leads the effort. Right away, they discover a problem. The foundation doesn’t appear to be as sound as they originally thought. It simply isn’t strong enough or big enough to support the weight of a 600-foot tall marble monument. Now what?

Some people suggest leaving the monument at its current height of 156 feet. They insist that trying to fix the old foundation is just too dangerous. Others believe that the foundation can be safely reinforced so the monument can proceed upward.

What Do You Think?

• It’s probably best to stop at 156 feet. After all, does height really matter?
• Of course it matters! Fix the foundation and finish the monument.

Your Turn to Build

• 

  Does Height Matter?

  Stop at 156 Feet

  Maybe the existing portion can be used as the base for a statue

• 

  Keep Going!

  Fix the Foundation

  It might cause a delay, but the Army Corps of Engineers can reinforce the foundation and get the monument built

• 

  Try Again

  Back to the Beginning

  Start the build over again. Return to the first article in the series.