In December 1833, the Washington National Monument Society launched major fundraising efforts to build a memorial to George Washington in the nation’s capital. Citizens across the United States were encouraged to donate toward the project. The December drive helped legitimize the idea that large public monuments could be financed by widespread small contributions rather than only government funds. The effort faced delays and cost overruns, but work on the monument eventually resumed with federal support. The completed obelisk opened to the public in 1888. The early December fundraising campaign showed how voluntary associations could shape the memorial landscape of the United States.
