Describes the history of the Washington Monument, how it was built, and what it represents.
Shortly after George Washington's death in 1799, Congress recognized the need for a presidential monument in his honor. However, progress did not begin on the structure until 1832. The Washington Monument traces the construction of the monument from its design by Robert Mills to halts in construction due to lack of funds and the Civil War to its dedication in 1885. Today, the world's largest obelisk stands as an eternal reminder of the accomplishments of the nation's first president.
Erected as a memorial to the 16th president of the United States, the Lincoln Memorial became the site of key moments in American history, particularly during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. As Abraham Lincoln made history with the Emancipation Proclamation, the monument built in his honor was the site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. With color photographs and illustrations, as well as direct quotes from those who were there, The Lincoln Memorial explores the monument's construction and its significance as a site of great events in U.S. history.
In Dogs and Demons, Alex Kerr chronicles the many facets of Japan's recent, and chronic, crises -- from the failure of its banks and pension funds to the decline of its once magnificent modern cinema. He is the first to give a full report on the nation's endangered environment -- its seashores lined with concrete, its roads leading to nowhere in the mountains -- as well as its "monument frenzy," the destruction of old cities such as Kyoto and construction of drab new ones, and the attendant collapse of its tourist industry. Kerr writes with humor and passion, for "passion," he says, "is part of the story.
The Washington Monument (Symbols of American Freedom)
Shortly after George Washington's death in 1799, Congress recognized the need for a presidential monument in his honor. However, progress did not begin on the structure until 1832. The Washington Monument traces the construction of the monument from its design by Robert Mills to halts in construction due to lack of funds and the Civil War to its dedication in 1885. Today, the world's largest obelisk stands as an eternal reminder of the accomplishments of the nation's first president.
