Washington Monument

Today in History: Washington Monument

Today in History–December 6–the Library of Congress features the Washington Monument, completed on this day in 1884. Construction began on July 4, 1848  but stopped for 20 years owing to a lack of funds. Construction was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under order from President Ulysses S. Grant.  The 555-foot, 5-1/8″ marble obelisk honors…

Today in History: Salmon P. Chase

Today in History: Salmon P. Chase

Today in History–December 6–the Library of Congress features Salmon P. Chase, nominated as Supreme Court Chief Justice by President Abraham Lincoln on this day in 1864. Learn more about the architect of the first two clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment who also served as Governor of Ohio, a U.S. Senator, and Lincoln’s secretary of the treasury, by…