The Washington Monument in Baltimore, Maryland is more than 30 years older than the Washington Monument in D.C. Now over 200 years old, the building is one of Maryland's most popular tourist attractions. But when construction workers repaired the monument in 2014, they discovered a cement block filled with unusual objects. In late 2021, an excavator announced that the capsule would be opened. Here is the story of the Washington Monument's 200-year-old time capsule.
The Old Monument Needed Some Help
In January 2014, the Washington Monument was closed to the public. City officials were sprucing it up for its 200-year-old birthday. Throughout the centuries, the monument's infrastructure had been crumbling.
The Mount Vernon Place Conservancy in Baltimore, Maryland paid $5.5 million to repair the monument. Workers took great pains to keep the repairs as historically accurate as possible. But when the construction started, the residents of Baltimore had no idea that it would lead to a historic discovery.
Workers Found Something In The Cornerstone
In February 2015, project superintendent George Wilk II was digging at the base of the monument to install a new septic tank. But when he and his coworkers began digging, they discovered something unusual.
A large block of concrete stood in the way of their work. It was not part of the monument, but it seemed to have been buried there intentionally. Puzzled, the workers removed the block, and Wilk contacted the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy.
Historians Knew That It Was Important
Wilk knew that he could not throw the block away. After all, the Washington Monument is a National Historic Landmark, and it gave Baltimore the nickname "the Monument City." Instead, he brought it to historians at the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy.
To his surprise, Lance Humphries, the conservatory's restoration chair, knew exactly what the block was. Not only was it historically significant, but it was also something that historians have been waiting to uncover for centuries.
To Understand, We Need To Explore The Monument's History
Baltimore's Washington Monument was built in 1815, shortly after the War of 1812 ended. America had just fought with Britain for the second time, and the city of Baltimore wanted to show its patriotism by commemorating the nation's first president.
Colonel John Eager Howard donated land for the monument, and American architect Robert Mills was hired for the project. Mills envisioned a simple yet striking design: a sleek pillar with an ornate statue of George Washington on top.
The First Monument Ever Dedicated To George Washington
Believe it or not, Baltimore's Washington Monument was the first monument built to honor George Washington. That's why so many people were present for the time capsule. "Baltimore was proud of the role it had played in the War of 1812 and proud to build the first monument to George Washington," Humphries explained.
Because the monument was not completed until 1829, it was not the first finished monument dedicated to George Washington. That is the the Washington Monument State Park in Maryland, completed in 1827.
An Unusual Ceremony For The Monument's Opening
Although the monument was not finished until 1829, it first opened in 1815. When this happened, over 30,000 people arrived to see the building. But they also wanted to witness another ceremony: a time capsule that would be unearthed centuries later.
According to newspapers of the time, the citizens of Baltimore buried a time capsule there on July 4, 1815. But reporters never revealed its exact location, leaving historians to wonder what exactly was inside.
But Some Old Newspapers Held Clues
Although historians did not know exactly what was inside this time capsule, they had some clues. Journalists revealed that the contents included newspapers from the time, coins, and an engraved copper plate.
"Newspapers and coins were pretty typical of cornerstones and time capsules of the time," Humphries explained. “They were trying to show us what was going on in the world at that time.” It's no wonder why so many historians were curious about this time capsule.
Finding The Capsule Was Pure Coincidence
Despite how curious people were about the time capsule, nobody can just walk up to the Washington Monument and start digging. If they did it the wrong way, the entire monument could topple over.
Laborers were not looking for the capsule; they had permission and the funds to examine the underground part of the statue. "It's well known that they laid a cornerstone, but they never actually mentioned where the cornerstone was actually placed in the building," Humphries said. "So, it’s pretty neat to have found it."
Inside The Time Capsule...
After laborers retrieved the cube, they had to saw through it. The cube had been soldered shut to preserve the items inside. Workers had to carefully cut open the stone to not harm the contents inside.
When the cube was opened, the first thing spotted was the Declaration of Independence. "They laid a copy of the July 3, 1815 Federal Gazette, which had a copy of the Declaration of Independence on its front page that day," said Humphries.
The Declaration Of Independence Was Significant
When historians saw the Declaration of Independence on top of everything else, they were surprised. "While it is well-known that the monument is the first erected to George Washington, the selection of this item for such a prominent placement adds new meaning to the monument," Humphries told CNN.
Although the Washington Monument was dedicated solely to George Washington, the time capsule seemed to honor all of American history. After the War of 1812, Baltimore residents wanted to show their patriotism.
There Were Three Jars In Total
Underneath the Gazette, there were three jars. Each sealed glass jar each contained different items in each other. Even more fascinating: each jar was themed!
For instance, one jar featured documents that focused on George Washington. The second focused on the current events of the day, including the newspapers and ten American coins. The third jar had a religious theme. Whoever designed this time capsule put a lot of thought into its contents.
One Jar Was Dedicated To George Washington
Since the monument commemorates President George Washington, it's no surprise that one of the jars was dedicated to him. It contained an image of Washington's face, plus a copy of his Inaugural Address and farewell address. All of these were still legible, almost like they were only a few years old.
The jar also held two medals: One of Washington himself, and one honoring Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. Historians believe that people wanted to commemorate his military campaigns during the Spanish Peninsular Wars.
The Second And Third Jars Were More Specific
The second and third jars weren't as full. The second jar only had one item: A copy of the Bible from 1812. The third jar contained two copies of the Federal Gazette, dated July 5, 1812, and July 6, 1812.
These two newspapers tell us what life was like for people who lived in Baltimore in 1812. The July 6 copy talked about the time capsules and how the cornerstone was laid. Historians were fascinated with it.
The Contents Were Surprisingly Well-Preserved
For a 200-year-old time capsule, each item was surprisingly well preserved. The newspapers and jars had a bit of water damage, but other than that, they were in fair condition. Instead of paper, the creators used linen, which lasts much longer.
The stone masons seemed to do their job, too. "Inside the cornerstone... there was this beautifully carved decorative panel of the stonemasons and the stone carvers from 1815," Humphries revealed. The time capsule wasn't just a cornerstone; it was a piece of art.
What About The Copper Plate?
At the bottom of the cornerstone, there was a square copper plate. Initially, it appeared weathered and difficult to read. Preservation experts from The Walters Art Museum had to safely clean the copper plate to make out the inscription.
Once the plate was properly cleaned, historians analyzed it. It reads: On the 4th of July AD 1815 was laid this Foundation Stone of a Monument to be erected of the Memory of George Washington."
Who Created The Stone?
Just as the time capsule was a collaborative effort, the cornerstone was, too. The lid of the cornerstone included the carved names of all stonecutters who created it. The first was Thomas Towson, a last name that appears frequently on Maryland's buildings. Towson built several buildings in both Maryland and Washington.
The second stonecutter was William Steuart, who also served as the Mayor of Baltimore from 1831 to 1832. And the third was stone mason Sater Stevensen, who helped with the overall monument.
