George Washington’s Other Resting Place: Restoring the Washington Equestrian Monument Matthew C. Farmer, PE and Rebecca Wong, PMP Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. 2751 Prosperity Ave., Ste. 450, Fairfax, VA 22031 Phone: 703-641-4601 • Fax: 703-641-8822 • E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected] 3 2 N D R C I I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O N V E N T I O N A N D T R A D E S H O W • M A R C H 1 6 -2 1 , 2 0 1 7 F A R M E R A N D W O N G • 2 0 1 Abstract In 1869, in Richmond, on the grounds of the Virginia capitol, a bronze statue atop a granite monument was dedicated honoring American founding father George Washington. Recent repairs to the historical monument included repointing, stone work, cast iron staircase reconstruction, new flashings, and resetting of all stone paving and stair treads. Unexpected challenges arose in all aspects of the restoration work, requiring the project team to work together closely on this worthy tribute to the Father of America. Speaker Matthew C. Farmer, PE – Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., Fairfax, VA MATTHEW FARMER has served as principal investigator on numerous evaluations of buildings and monuments. He has concentrated his practice on masonry building enclosure systems engineering, design, investigation, analysis, and repair. His projects have included institutional, commercial, and historic landmarks. Farmer is a registered professional engi- neer in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. He received bachelor’s degrees in architec- tural engineering and environmental design from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in civil engineering from Cornell University. Nonpresenting Coauthor Rebecca Wong, PMP – Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc., Fairfax, VA REBECCA WONG specializes in historic preservation and materials conservation, and is an architectural historian in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards. She has worked on historic preservation projects ranging from façade rehabilitation to documentation of historic structures. Wong received her master of arts degree in historic preservation from Savannah College of Art and Design. 2 0 2 • F A R M E R A N D W O N G 3 2 N D R C I I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O N V E N T I O N A N D T R A D E S H O W • M A R C H 1 6 -2 1 , 2 0 1 7 George Washington’s Other Resting Place: Restoring the Washington Equestrian Monument INTRODUC TION While relocating President Washington to In 1869, an incredible tribute to the the United States Capitol building never father of our country was finally completed came to pass, the Virginia General Assembly on the grounds of the capitol of the Virginia planned to build a monument through Commonwealth in Richmond, Virginia. various resolutions from 1815 to 1818. The Construction on the monument had started resolutions provided that the funding for approximately 18 years prior. The unique the monument would be garnered through aspects of the monument include a large donations, and that the monument would bronze statue of George Washington on house the remains of both George and horseback, several bronze statues of prom- Martha Washington.2 Discussion of relocat- inent patriots (“Sons of Virginia”), and ing Washington’s remains continued into smaller bronze statues of allegorical figures 1816 and 1832 with Washington’s descen- (Figure 1). The granite masonry podium on dants, Bushrod and John Augustine. They which the statues are placed includes an reiterated Washington’s desire to be buried Figure 1 – The Washington Monument internal drainage system and a solid stone at Mount Vernon and formally declined the in 1869. door that opens to an accessible interior requests. The marble sarcophagus at the where a cast iron staircase rises to the pro- Capitol crypt, below the rotunda, is now with the motto, “Let there be light,” with an posed final resting place for our nation’s more accurately a cenotaph, providing a elevated torch and reference to the destruc- first president. The monument is framed by monument to George Washington. tion of tyranny. Other notable participants large granite pavers and stair treads that On February 22, 1849, an act was in the competition included John McArthur had suffered from joint mortar deteriora- passed by the Assembly of Virginia to move Jr., architect of the Philadelphia City Hall; tion, lateral displacement, and heaving. forward with designing a monument for John Lewis Hayes, architect of the St. Jude Despite several prior restoration cam- George Washington that would be located Shrine in Baltimore; James Renwick Jr., paigns, restoration was again necessary on Capitol Square in Richmond. The design architect of the Smithsonian Institution by 2010 to address paving distress, stone was released as a competition where par- in DC; and Henry Exall, an architect who joint mortar failure, and water infiltration, ticipants would be awarded the commission designed numerous prominent houses in with the ultimate goal to restore the monu- of the design, as well as a $500 premium Richmond. ment to its original grandeur and preserve if their design was approved. The budget In February 1850, a ceremony was it for future generations. Repairs included provided for the monument was $100,000, held to initiate the monument and lay the complete repointing, stone repairs, disman- and it was to incorporate local granite. This cornerstone with Crawford and President tling and reconstruction of the cast iron announcement was advertised in numer- Zachary Taylor in attendance, among other staircase, new flashings, and resetting of ous newspapers, and the original deadline dignitaries. The final design was drawn by all stone paving and stair treads. However, for designs was December 1, 1849. Shortly Crawford in May 1850, and the final con- unexpected benefits and challenges arose after the announcement, the commissioners tract was signed in June of that year, with in all aspects of the work, requiring the received numerous requests to extend the the agreement that the monument would be project team to work together closely on deadline, as it was found to be too short. completed by February 22, 1856. this worthy tribute to our country’s most Consequently, the competition deadline was The monument, located just west of the famous patriot. extended to January 8, 1850. Governor’s Mansion, would feature George Approximately 64 responses were Washington sitting on a trotting horse at MONUMENT HIS TORY received, including Robert Mills, who the top of the granite pedestal, flanked by A monument as a tribute to George designed prominent monuments such as the six sons of Virginia at a lower tier: Thomas Washington is not unique. Shortly after Washington Monument in Washington, DC, Jefferson, Patrick Henry, John Marshall, Washington’s death in 1799, groups and and Thomas Crawford, who was ultimately Thomas Nelson, George Mason, and Andrew committees began planning for ways to awarded the commission. While Mills was Lewis. Each of those are flanked at the low- honor the great man. The Washington fam- not awarded the commission, he did briefly est tier by corresponding allegorical figures: ily had received numerous requests to inter work for Crawford. Crawford’s design origi- Independence, Revolution, Justice, Finance, the president’s remains, including a request nally included five Sons of Virginia, not six, Bill of Rights, and Colonial Times, respec- by Congress to inter him in the United with the original sixth pedestal to hold a tively. Thirteen stars surround the pedestal States Capitol building in Washington, DC1 statue representing the State of Virginia just below the Washington statue, and 13 3 2 N D R C I I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O N V E N T I O N A N D T R A D E S H O W • M A R C H 1 6 -2 1 , 2 0 1 7 F A R M E R A N D W O N G • 2 0 3 laurel wreaths wrap around the monument Louisa, stepped into her husband’s place left hoof, and is one of the few equestrian just below the water table, representing the upon his death and oversaw many of his statues founded on only two hooves. The original 13 colonies. projects, including the monument. statue plinth bears on the granite cap- The statues of Lewis and two others The monument was dedicated on stone, and anchorage for the hooves passes were never intended, but rather the allegori- February 1858, being only partially com- through the capstone on cast iron col- cal representation of Virginia, Henry Lee, pleted with the granite pedestal, eques- umns to X-braces within the upper granite and Daniel Morgan (born in Pennsylvania). trian statue, Jefferson, Henry, and Mason structure. The X-braces engage the granite These figures were changed by the monu- in place. Randolph Rogers, who met the through bronze rods that extend through to ment Commission in October 1855. The Crawfords in Rome, was brought in during the exterior face of the monument and are Commission preferred James Monroe and June 1858 to oversee the rest of the project. concealed by the decorative bronze stars James Madison; however, those did not With Rogers in place, additional design (Figure 2). At the interior, the X-braces were make the final design. A coat of arms was alterations were proposed, such as the originally concealed with brick. also intended to adorn the statue; how- removal of the originally proposed eagles, The 9-in.-thick original capstone has ever, due to problems attaching the bronze the attire of Nelson, and a recommendation a longitudinal joint spanning from north element to the monument, it was never by the Commission to incorporate bas- to south and a hatchway centered below used.