Washington National Monument Society Formed in 1833, the Washington National Monument Society took charge of creating a memorial to <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/152">George Washington</a> on the National Mall. They raised money through public donations and awarded the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/280">design contract </a>to architect <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/114">Robert Mills</a>. In 1854, Congress transferred the land on the Mall to the Society and the Monument <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/196">cornerstone was laid</a> in July of that year. The Society quickly ran out of money, however, and fundraising campaigns were unsuccessful. The Society returned the land and the unfinished monument to Congress in 1876, then serving as advisors to the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/281">Congressional committee charged with completing the Monument</a>. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Washington+National+Monument+Society">Washington National Monument Society</a> Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. <a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2006678338/">View original image.</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> <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1860-1889">1860-1889</a>