Original Design of the Washington Monument This original, lavish design of the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/36">Washington Monument </a>was created by <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/114">Robert Mills</a>, who won a national design competition in 1836 sponsored by the<a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/148"> Washington National Monument Society</a>. The Society relied on public funds for construction. Shortly after construction began in 1854 they were forced to stop when money ran out. <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/281">In 1876 Congress took over the construction of the monument</a>, choosing to construct a <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/455">simple obelisk</a> instead of Mills' original design. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Mills">Robert Mills</a> Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. <a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2006678338/">View original</a>. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1830-1859">1830-1859</a>