![]() Of a very small group of experts asked to inspect the condition of the pyramidĪfter 50 years of exposure during the first refurbishing of the monument inġ934. Industry is the cap of the Washington Monument." He made the statement as one Of America (now Alcoa) when he declared "the crown jewel of the aluminum Dix, then chief metallurgist of the Aluminum Company Indeed, it was accorded this high accolade 50 years after United States, so also is the aluminum pyramid cap at its apex a symbol for theĪluminum industry. Just as the Washington Monument is an important symbol for the people of the The history of this 102 year saga of the United States'Įfforts to honor its first president is well recorded in innumerable books, It took another 37 years for the monument to be completedĪnd dedicated in 1885. Finally, in 1848 a consensusĪmong many involved groups was achieved, and the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid. Suffice to say that nothing of substance was done. Simple commemorative intent is fraught with the foibles of human endeavor. The achievements and memory of George Washington by authorizing the erection ofĪn equestrian statue in his honor. Continental Congress passed a resolution to keep alive Subsequent emergence of the modern massive aluminum industry. In retrospect, this can be considered a watershed event in the Small but very expensive aluminum pyramid that was set atop the Washington Monument on its completion in 1884 to serve the functional purpose of a Monumental status within its sphere of application. The opportunity for a happenstance event subsequently, the event is accorded Rarely, that a particular time and a consequent circumstance merge to create In the history of materials and human events it sometimes happens, however SIDEBAR 1: ALUMINUM'S STATUS IN THE MID-1880s. ![]() The highest skilled craftsman on the monument project was paid $2 per Thus, the cost of one ounce of aluminum was equivalent to a full day's Monument was $1 per day, and the workday was typically 10 hours or greater in Per pound) to the fact that in 1884 the wage of a laborer on the Washington The author prefers to compare the 1884 price of aluminum of $1 per ounce ($16 Units, it is well to give the reader a perspective about the relationship toĬurrent times it is insufficient to use the financial term inflation adjusted. Binczewski and his research, see the article "LMD Member Pioneers Research into the Point of the Washington Monument" in this issue's edition of Division News.Īuthor's Note: When dealing with historical numbers involving monetary The Point of a Monument: A History of the Aluminum Cap of the Washington Monument George J. JOM is a publication of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society The following article appears in the journal JOM, A History of the Aluminum Cap of the Washington Monument ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |