Towering above the city at a height of 555 feet, it is made up of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, giving it a divided appearance. Furthermore, the design by Robert Mills has four sided that come up to a pyramid at its highest point. He chose this shape after the ancient Egyptian masterpieces that stand the test of time. Likewise, the grandeur symbolizes the accomplishments of George Washington as a military leader in the American Revolution, and the first president of the United States. However, the construction ran into problems as it progressed, leading to the color discrepancy in the building material. The goal of the Washington Monument was to create a piece that would commemorate their great leader, as someone that stands in no one’s shadow. Therefore, this is the reason for the great height, it had to be taller than all other buildings. Everyone involved in the development of the monument felt a tremendous sense of pride, both in their country, and for the commander in which they were honoring. The architects, Robert Mills and his successor, Lt. Col. Thomas L. Casey, wanted everyone that saw the Washington Monument to be awestruck in its very presence, in order to feel they had been successful. The obelisk is a very extravagant installation that accurately portrays Washington as the first president, and it is situated accordingly. That being said, if the tower had a better quality of building materials throughout, the differentiation of stones wound not be as distracting. Overall, the Washington Monument is a timeless work of art that can be viewed as one of the greatest architectural achievements of all