What makes the Washington Monument so monumental?

Summary

Who Smarted? - "What Makes the Washington Monument So Monumental?"
Aired: February 16, 2026
Host: Trusty Narrator (A)
Guest: George Washington (B, humorous portrayal)

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Who Smarted?" dives into the intriguing history, architecture, controversies, and surprising facts behind the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Blending comedy, curious trivia, and interactive questions, the Trusty Narrator and a ghostly George Washington explore what makes the monument "so monumental," from its record-setting height to its design mishaps and dramatic pauses in construction.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What is the Washington Monument?

• The Washington Monument is an iconic obelisk-shaped structure located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
• It stands 555 feet, 5 & 1/8 inches tall.
• Its design: A four-sided stone pillar (obelisk) topped with a pyramid.
• Remarkable feat: "When it was constructed in 1884, it was the tallest structure in the world." (A, 01:00)
• Fun Fact: From the top, "You can see 30 miles in each direction." (A, 01:00)

2. Original Monument Plans – Bigger, Fancier, and a Bit Extra!

• Early 1800s: Former President James Madison forms the Washington National Monument Society to honor Washington with a memorial (B, 03:44).
• Design contest: The chosen plan was a grand Roman temple with 30 stone columns and statues of Declaration signers between each one, plus "a statue of me (George) driving a horse drawn chariot" on top! (B, 02:33)
  • "Now that’s what I call a monument." (B, 02:43)

3. A Symbolic Start – Cornerstone Ceremony

• In 1848, a huge event celebrated the laying of the cornerstone.
• Guests included President James Polk, three future presidents, and Abraham Lincoln (B, 04:26).
• Traditions discussed: Burying mementos in the cornerstone (A, 04:48).

4. Building the Monument – Early Progress and Setbacks

• By 1854, about 150 ft high, 1/4 finished (A, 05:28).
• Construction tech: Steam-powered elevator could lift 6 tons of stone, plus old-school ropes and pulleys (B, 06:03; A, 06:14).
• Stat: 36,000 stones were placed in total (A, 06:14).

5. Unexpected Drama: The Pope’s Stone and Political Intrigue

• Monument Society invited ceremonial stone donations. The Pope sent one, upsetting the anti-Catholic Know Nothing Party, who stole the Pope’s stone in 1854 (B, 06:53; A, 07:22).
  • "One night in 1854, a group of Know Nothings snuck up to the monument, locked the night watchman in a shed, and stole the Pope's stone." (B, 07:22)
• The ensuing scandal dried up donations; construction stalled for 25 years (B, 07:50).
  • "They didn't set another stone for 25 years." (B, 07:50)

6. Major Pause – Civil War Interrupts Everything

• Civil War (1861–65) derailed further progress and funds (A, 08:04).
• The unfinished monument was mocked as “a hollow, oversized chimney” (B, 08:23).
• During the war, cattle grazed around it, adding to the indignity (B, 08:23).

7. Finishing the Monument – But Not the Fancy Way

• By 1876, Congress resumed work, scrapping the ornate Roman temple and chariot: “Whatever. It’s not like I helped win the country’s independence or anything.” (B, 08:48)
• Finished as a “perfect obelisk” – or is it?

8. Design Flaw: The Monument’s Unintentional Neapolitan Look

• Surprising Fact: The monument is not a single color.
  • "What do you think this design flaw is, smarty pants? ... The surprising answer is it’s two different colors." (A, 15:09)
  • George adds: "Actually, it's three different colors." (B, 15:25)
• Cause: Original quarry (Maryland) closed after the halt; new stones from Massachusetts and later another Maryland quarry didn't match tones. Rain changed stone colors over time (B, 15:39).
  • "That's why the monument ... is white on the bottom, light brown in the middle, and tannish pink on top." (B, 16:21)

9. Unusual Capstone – A Precious Metal That Isn’t

• At the tiptop is a 9-inch pyramid of aluminum, which was rarer than silver in 1884 (A, 17:06).
  • "When they installed it in 1884, it was one of the most valuable metals on earth." (B, 17:20)
• Today, it’s used for “tin foil and soda cans” (A, 17:45).
  • "As metals go, they don't get much cheaper than aluminum. Wow." (A, 18:10)

10. Enduring Legacy & Fun Facts

• The monument is visited by millions annually and even survived a 2012 earthquake (A, 16:53).
• The reflecting pool, visible beauty despite flaws, and modern relevance highlighted (A, 16:36).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Design Aspirations:
  • "There was going to be a Roman temple with 30 stone columns. ... On top ... a statue of me driving a horse drawn chariot. Now that’s what I call a monument." – George Washington (B), 02:31–02:48
• Construction Method:
  • "As you can see...they're using a steam powered elevator inside the monument that can lift as much as 6 tons of stone up to where they're working." – George Washington (B), 06:03
• Historical Drama:
  • "One night in 1854, a group of Know Nothings snuck up to the monument, locked the night watchman in a shed, and stole the Pope’s stone." – George Washington (B), 07:22
• Colorful Critique:
  • "That's why the monument ... is white on the bottom, light brown in the middle, and tannish pink on top. Thank you very much." – George Washington (B), 16:21
• Changing Value:
  • "Aluminum may once have been a rare precious metal as valuable as silver, but today, not so much. That’s because we found a ton of it...as metals go, they don't get much cheaper than aluminum. Wow." – Trusty Narrator (A), 17:45–18:10
• Playful Self-Awareness:
  • "By George, I think we did it." – Trusty Narrator (A), 18:29

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Important Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:01] – Arrival and introduction at the National Mall
• [01:00] – Monument dimensions and early facts
• [02:33] – George’s description of the original design plans
• [04:25] – Cornerstone ceremony attendees
• [06:03] – Construction methods and technological feats
• [07:22] – Stolen Pope’s stone and Know Nothing Party drama
• [08:23] – Civil War era neglect and monument mockery
• [15:09] – Design flaw (color difference) revealed
• [16:21] – Why the monument is three colors
• [17:06] – Capstone and the value of aluminum
• [18:29] – Episode wrap-up and reflection

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Tone & Style

The episode employs playful banter, silly asides, and breaks the fourth wall by directly inviting the listener (“smarty pants”) to guess quiz answers. The hosts (especially ghostly George) are witty, self-deprecating, and keep things lively and accessible for kids:

"Now that's what I call a monument." (B, 02:43)
"It’s not that kind of mall." (A, 01:31)
"Save yourself, trusty. I’m just a ghost, remember?" (B, 18:20)

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Takeaways

• The Washington Monument’s history is filled with ambition, complications, and quirky mistakes, illuminated in a fun, accessible format.
• It's both a marvel of engineering and a lesson in how historic monuments reflect political and technological changes — as well as occasional blunders — over time.
• Even though plans changed and things went awry, its enduring presence (in three colors, with a once-precious aluminum cap) continues to inspire visitors and spark curiosity.

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Recommended for:

• Young learners, classrooms, history buffs, and anyone curious about America's most iconic landmarks—delivered with a smile and a wink!

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Transcript

[A]

And now it's time for who's Smarted? Psst. Hey, smarty pants. Today I, your trusty narrator, am coming to you from the capital of the United States of America. Do you know where that is? Did you say Washington, D.C. of course you did, smarty pants. I've been pretty busy. First, I took a tour of the White House, where the President lives. Then I checked out the Capitol building where Congress passes laws. And now I'm headed to the mall.

[B]

Attention mall shoppers. Free meat cake samples now available in the food court.

[A]

No, not a shopping mall. The National Mall. Home to what was once the tallest structure in the world. Any guesses, smarty pants? Did you say the Washington Monument? And I'm going to the top until my fear of heights kicks in. But first, let's marvel at it from the ground. Standing 555ft and 5 and 18 inches tall, the Washington Monument is a truly majestic obelisk. By which I mean a giant four sided stone pillar with a pyramid on top. And if that wasn't enough, there's a reflecting pool in front of it to double the fun. How awesome is that?

[B]

Meh. It's okay.

[A]

Who said that? Clearly you're not a fan of George Washington. Is that you?

[B]

I cannot tell a lie. It is.

[A]

I. Um. What are you doing here?

[B]

I heard there were free meat cake samples at the mall. I just hope I can chew them with my wooden teeth.

[A]

Right, George, it's. It's not that kind of mall. But it is a national mall where an amazing monument has been constructed in your honor that you don't seem to be super thrilled with. Meh, meh, meh. But your monument is inspiring. When it was constructed in 1884, it was the tallest structure in the world. And it remained that way for five years. It weighs as much as 400 Statues of Liberty. You can see 30 miles in each direction from the top.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, I know all that.

[A]

It's just.

[B]

It could have been so much more. Did you know they had a contest where people submitted designs for the monument? And the winning design was a lot fancier than this.

[A]

Really? How so?

[B]

Well, for one thing, it was 50ft taller and the obelisk was just one part of it. There was going to be a Roman temple with 30 stone columns. Between each column there'd be a different signer of the Declaration of Independence.

[A]

Oh, that does sound cool.

[B]

That's not even the best part. On top of the temple was going to be a statue of me driving a horse drawn chariot. Now that's what I call a monument.

[A]

So what happened?

[B]

It's a long story.

[A]

Well, Mr. President, I for one would love to hear it. Plus, it's a great way to teach the smarty pants about your monument. Like who built it and how. Why did they suddenly stop building it for 25 years? And what major mistake did the builders make that we can still see today? Oops. Get ready for another whiff of science and history. On who smarted. Who's smart? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. On who's smart and. Okay, George, I know you were a ghost at the time, but you must have been excited when you heard they were gonna build a monument to honor you, right?

[B]

Of course. It was 1833 and my friend, former President James Madison had formed the Washing National Monument Society whose goal was to raise money to build me a fancy memorial. Pierre Linfant, the fellow who designed the layout of Washington D.C. had already chosen this very spot for it back when I was still alive. So I kind of knew it was coming.

[A]

So it was Madison's Monument Society that held the design contest?

[B]

Yes, they picked that awesome Roman temple design I told you about. And in 1848, they held a big event to lay the cornerstone and commemorate the official start of construction.

[A]

Who was there?

[B]

Who wasn't there? There were over 20,000 people, including the current president, James Polk, and three future presidents, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, and a little known congressman from Illinois by the name of Abraham Lincoln. Hey George, can I borrow a penny to get some meat cake?

[A]

Wow, that's some guest. Listen, now you mentioned the cornerstone, which is a key part of a building's foundation. Besides the tradition of celebrating the cornerstone, it's also a tradition to bury mementos inside the cornerstone. Smarty pants, which of these objects do you think was not buried inside the Washington Monument's cornerstone? A, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, B, a portrait of President Washington or C, a Washington Nationals baseball cap? I hope you guessed the baseball cap. Anyway, after that they were off and running building the monument. Right, George?

[B]

Correct.

[A]

But how did they do it? Wait, don't tell me. I want to see for myself. Prepare to teleport. Here we are. It's 1854, about six years into construction. Hey, looks like they've got about 150ft of monument built. That's about one fourth. Ooh, one fourth equals what? Smarty pants? Did you say a quarter? And who's on the quarter? Why, George Washington. Coincidence.

[B]

As you can see, Trusty, they're using a steam powered elevator inside the monument that can lift as much as 6 tons of stone up to where they're working.

[A]

Wow. They're also using ropes and pulleys to lift stones and set them into position. They keep inching their way higher and higher, stone by stone. By the end, they'll have placed 36,000 stones.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

I can't wait to see them finish. Uh, where are all the construction workers going?

[B]

They're quitting.

[A]

Why?

[B]

The Pope.

[A]

Did you say the Pope, as in the head of the Catholic Church?

[B]

I did.

[A]

Really? Why would the Pope cause them to stop building?

[B]

Remember the Monument Society?

[A]

Madison's group? Sure.

[B]

Well, they asked people to donate special ceremonial stones to be used in my monument's construction. It just so happened the Pope at the time, Pope Pius ix, decided he was going to donate a stone.

[A]

So what's wrong with that?

[B]

It infuriated the members of the Know Nothing Party. They were a powerful political party in Washington back then, and they really didn't like Catholics or immigrants or anyone else. I'm not going to lie, they weren't very nice people.

[A]

Gotcha.

[B]

One night in 1854, a group of Know Nothing snuck up to the monument, locked the night watchman in a shed, and stole the Pope's stone.

[A]

No way.

[B]

Way. Some people say they tossed it into the Potomac river, but either way, it was never found. Then not long after, the Know Nothing swooped in and took over the Monument Society.

[A]

Such drama. And this stopped construction?

[B]

Yep. Because of all of the controversy, people stopped sending in donations. No money, no monument. They didn't set another stone for 25 years. Of course, there was also something that began in 18. That didn't help.

[A]

Smarty pants. What big event in US history grabbed the nation's attention and available cash? Was it the invention of the automobile, the Civil War, or the stock market crash? If you said the Civil War, great job.

[B]

My unfinished monument just sat there like a tree stump. Famous author Mark Twain called it a hollow, oversized chimney. And if that weren't insulting enough, during the Civil War, they used the grassy area around my monument to graze cattle. The whole place smelled like cow poop.

[A]

That is no way to treat the father of our country.

[B]

Anyway, the whole mess was so embarrassing. In 1876, Congress finally decided to take over and resume construction. But to save money, they scrapped the Roman temple and my horse was strawn. Chariot. Whatever. It's not like I helped win the country's independence or anything.

[A]

True. But hey, you're one of the only people to ever have a massive monument built for you. Plus, it's an awesome perfect obelisk.

[B]

You're joking, right?

[A]

I wasn't.

[B]

Take a close look at my monument through and tell me how perfect it is.

[A]

Okay. Oh, I think I see the problem. Yeah, that's not good. Smarty pants. Can you guess the builder's big mistake that still haunts the Washington Monument to this day? The mystery revealed right after this quick break. Hey there homeschool parents. Trusty here and wow. February. Oof. Am I right? The days are short, the calendar is packed, and you want to keep learning consistent and moving towards spring goals without more stress for you or your kids. That is where IXL comes in. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling. It offers interactive personalized practice across math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. Whether your kids need to reinforce a tricky concept or they're ready to zoom ahead, IXL handles the heavy lifting at your kid's pace, including a new, immediate and simple explanations of anything they get wrong so you don't have to be an expert on, well, everything. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and who SmartEd listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when you sign up today at www.ixl.com smarted. Visit www.ixl.com smartEd to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. Hey smarty friends Trusty here. Are you looking for another kids and family podcast that combines humor with learning in a way that captivates? Then check out welcome to Hope Springs. It is the newest audio drama from the Augustan Institute, the award winning team behind the Adventures of Nick and Sam and the Trials of St Patrick. Set in the fictional mountain town of Hope Springs, the story follows a close group of friends who spend their days at the old depot and a newly restored train station until an innocent prank sparks a mystery that stretches across the entire town. Created by award winning writer Paul McCusker, it's packed with humor, adventure, and really thoughtful moments of friendship, courage and faith. It's the kind of show that sparks imagination without screens, and it's perfect for listening together in the car or at home. Don't miss out. Follow welcome to Hope Springs on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. As the trusty narrator, I've taken the smarty pants on countless adventures. I'll do anything for the fans, but off mic, I prefer to keep my adventures in the safe space of my own backyard. However, even a homebody like me can't avoid the unexpected chaos that comes with family life. Take last week for example. My niece was staying with me when she came down with a nasty cold in the middle of the night. I couldn't leave her alone to get medicine. And that's when I remembered Doordash is there for you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. With a few taps on my phone, I had cough syrup and tissues delivered right to my door. Doordash saved the night and my niece was back to her energetic self in no time. Oh, and did I order a little ice cream for myself. Yes, I did. And Doordash brought it right to my door. So while I may not be the biggest fan of real life adventures, I'm grateful that Doordash is always there to help me navigate life's little emergencies. When life happens, get a little order delivered with DoorDash order now. Smarty pants. Smarty parents. Trusty here. And I've got something kind of emotional to share with you. So many of you have asked how you can start your own podcast and we've been thinking hard about how to help you do that. So we created the first ever who Smarted Podcast camp. This is the kind of program that I wish someone had given me as a kid, or honestly, even as an adult, because it would have made everything so much easier. Parents, here's what you need to know. This is designed for kids age 6 to 11 and your kids can do this on their own. You don't need any special equipment, just whatever you already have. And by the end, your kid will have actually made a real podcast. Something their friends will love, something their grandparents will love. And smartypants, if you've ever had ideas or stories in your head that you wish other people could hear, this is how you make that happen. Plus, you'll learn how to tell better stories and think more clearly, which honestly helps with everything. It's a self paced camp with lessons dropping starting March 1, and we've got your back anytime you get stuck or need some advice. Oh, and you know how so many of you have asked for a trusty narrator face reveal? Well, you're going to get it because I'll be on camera personally teaching the video lessons. We're announcing this to the world next week, but we wanted to give you guys our whosmarted family first crack at a very special early bird price of just $78. That's more than 50% off the regular price but it's only good through February 18th. Head to whosmarted.com and click on Podcast Camp and check out all the details. I cannot wait to see what you guys create. But don't wait, because when this family discount goes away on the 18th, it's gone. That's WhoSmarted.com and click podcast Camp. Now back to who smarted? I'm somehow here with George Washington at the base of the Washington Monument. And after close inspection, I've noticed a major flaw in its construction. One that has George Washington pulling his hair. Er, I mean, his wig out.

[B]

So, meh.

[A]

What do you think this design flaw is, smarty pants? Is the monument two different colors? Is it leaning dangerously to one side or does it have a huge dent in it? The surprising answer is it's two different colors.

[B]

Actually, it's three different colors.

[A]

What? Three? Let me take another look. Oh, wow, you're right. The top, bottom, and a small section near the middle are all different colors. How the heck did that happen? Easy.

[B]

They got the stones from three different places. You see, when they started up construction again after stalling for 25 years, they discovered the quarry in Maryland where they got the original stones from. It shut down. So they tried another quarry in Massachusetts, and whoops. After just a few layers, they could tell the color of the new stone didn't match the old stuff at all.

[A]

So then what did they do?

[B]

They tried yet another quarry in Maryland. Luckily, this stone was a perfect match. Until it rained. These new stones looked very different after being exposed to the elements.

[A]

Oh boy.

[B]

And that's why the monument to me, George Washington, number seven on People magazine's list of history's most influential people, is white on the bottom, light brown in the middle, and tannish pink on top. Thank you very much.

[A]

Okay, okay. So it looks a little like Neapolitan ice cream. But despite its flaws, it's still a beautiful monument. If it wasn't, would millions of people visit it every year? Hmm. It even survived an earthquake in 2012.

[B]

Sure. Oh, and there's something pretty cool I haven't told you yet.

[A]

Yeah, what?

[B]

You mind flying us to the top with your teleporter thingy?

[A]

Done.

[B]

See this pyramid shaped stone block at the very top, it's called the capstone. And at the tippity top of the Capstone is a 9 inch tall pyramid made of a very rare, very precious metal. In fact, when they installed it in 1884, it was one of the most valuable metals on earth, as I'm sure it still is today.

[A]

Ooh. Any guess what precious metal I'm looking at, smarty pants? Is it gold, silver, or aluminum? Believe it or not, it's aluminum. Aluminum?

[B]

What's so funny about aluminum? It's very rare and precious and valuable.

[A]

Sorry, George. As a trusty narrator, I too cannot tell a lie. Aluminum may once have been a rare precious metal as valuable as silver, but today, not so much. That's because we found a ton of it. Many tons, in fact. And now we use it for lots of ordinary things like tin foil and soda cans. As metals go, they don't get much cheaper than aluminum. Wow.

[B]

And here I thought I couldn't dislike this monument more. Well, at least the aluminum helps deter lightning strikes.

[A]

Um, we better get down before lightning strikes.

[B]

Save yourself, trusty. I'm just a ghost, remember? But hey, I can see myself reflected in that pool of water down there. How cool is that?

[A]

By George, I think we did it. A monumental shout out to Thomas in Fairfax, Virginia, who loves smarting. With us on the way to and from school and on weekends. That is some seriously dedicated smarting. Well done. This episode. The Washington Monument was written by Steve Monumental Melcher and voiced by Mike Presidential Privetti, Kim Declaration Davis, Adam Obelisk Davis, Max Cherry Tree Comaskey and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Honest Josh Hahn. Who's Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Stone Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis, who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production. Too. Smart and.