This Day in History October 9, 1888

By AgnosticPreachersKid (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

I have never had a chance to see this Washington Monument in person, but whenever I see a picture of it, I find it breathtaking.  It is a 555-foot tall obelisk that honors President Washington's military victories.  The idea began while Washington was president, but one hundred years after his birth, there was enough money to begin this fantastic creation.  In 1848, construction was begun, but in 1854, Congress ran out of funds.  Then came the Civil War, and there was concern that this would ever be completed.  Thankfully, the monument was completed on December 6, 1884, and it was dedicated on Washington's birthday February 22, 1885.  And it opened to the general public on this date October 9, 1888.  One interesting note.  Why the change in color?  The was caused by the delay in construction.

For more information, please check out:

http://www.examiner.com/article/on-this-day-the-washington-monument-officially-opened

http://famousdaily.com/history/washington-monument-opens.html

This Day in History May 31, 1859

Source: Uploaded by user via Richard on Pinterest

Today's feature concerns a place where I have visited in person.  It was on this date in 1859 that the clock tower which houses Big Ben began ticking.  Yes, I know that Big Ben is what the clock tower is often called, but that is wrong.  Big Ben is actually the hour bell that chimes.  The building is called the clock tower.

I had the privilege of spending 6 weeks in England a few years back, and when we were in London, we saw this firsthand.  It is a beautiful structure, and it is one of London's many landmarks that are well worth seeing.

For more information, check out:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8075833.stm
http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/
http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/londons-big-ben-celebrates-150th-birthday-may-31
http://timelines.com/1859/5/31/big-ben-starts-ticking