I've lived in Washington County for more than 20 years, but had never visited the Washington Monument. I rectified this on April 14 when I took Mom there on one of our Sunday drives. Unfortunately, the trail to the monument is not handicapped accessible. She waited in the car while I made the short hike to the monument. When I got back, I showed her pictures of the monument and surrounding area.
The Washington Monument in Washington County was built two decades before the one on the Mall in Washington DC. It was erected on July 4, 1827 by the citizens of Boonsboro to honor the first president. It is a stone monument that resembles a milk bottle in shape. It was built with stones from the area. It is 30 feet high and located near the summit of South Mountain. During the Civil War, the monument was used as a signal station by the Union Army. The Battle of South Mountain took place nearby.
Like most things, the monument fell in disrepair over the years. During the time of the Civil War, only about a third of the monument still stood. It was rebuilt at least twice in its history, most recently by the CCC in 1936. In 1972, the monument was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is now maintained by the Maryland Park Service as a state park. The trail to the monument intersects with the Appalachian Trail. Along the way, there are signs commemorating important milestones in George Washington's life.
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