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Washington, D.C., circa 1934. "Washington Monument. Capstone without lightning rods." 8x10 nitrate negative by Theodor Horydczak. View full size.
I remember my grade-school history teacher telling us about the cap being aluminum and at that time it cost more than gold. That started me on an aluminum can saving kick that I still do some 40 years later.
(I have recycled most of the cans.)
In answer to loujudson's question it was scaffolding:
Simultaneously amazing and crude... nowhere near as fine as many pyramicds and old cathedrals, yet an amazing engineering feat!
How did they place the capstone, and how did they take the photo? Was there a scaffolding, or a helicopter, or did they just levitate? :-)
I've heard from so many sources that this capstone was an all seeing eye, Masonic or Illuminati. Now I can show the next person I hear say that, Nope here's a picture.
To read that from the ground wait until the lightning rods are installed. Then the capstone will be grounded.
Interestingly, the tip is made of aluminum, and originally so. It was an exotic expensive substance back then!
It's not up to cathedral builders' standards. The fit isn't very good, and it's right out where a deity can see it, too.
Now how am I going to read that from the ground?
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