On July 4, 1827, the people of Boonsboro in Washington County climbed South Mountain to construct and dedicate the Washington Monument. Honoring the nation’s first President, George Washington, this monument was the first of its kind, predating the more famous Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The citizens of Boonsboro built half of the Washington Monument on July 4, 1827, using granite found onsite. At 4 p.m., they held a dedication ceremony that included reading the Declaration of Independence and a ceremonial volley fired by four Revolutionary War veterans. The townspeople returned in September to complete the structure. Upon completion, the monument stood 30 feet tall with a base circumference of 54 feet.
During the Civil War, the Washington Monument served as a signal station, used by Union forces to communicate strategic messages. After the war, the monument was neglected. It was restored in 1882 but suffered from further neglect and damage over time. The structure endured acts of vandalism and was even damaged by dynamite on at least one occasion. In May 1916, the Hagerstown Daily Mail reported that the monument had been vandalized by “mountaineers,” an incident believed to have reduced it to half its original height.
The monument was restored once again during the Great Depression and rededicated on July 4, 1936. Since then, it has been continuously maintained and preserved, ensuring its legacy as a historic landmark.
For more history on the first Washington Monument visit History Washington.
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