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Soaring structures built
to stand the test of time.
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And gigantic stone obelisks
that reveal mysterious agendas.
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For millions of people,
monuments like mount rushmore,
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the washington monument,
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and the empire state building
represent
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the engineering triumphs
of a great nation.
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But what is it about
america's monuments
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that continue to fascinate
and inspire us
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decades or even centuries
after their creation?
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And could their facades
be concealing hidden meanings
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or even secret purposes?
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Well, that is what
we'll try and find out.
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here in the black hills, nearly
6,000 feet above sea level,
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four colossal granite faces
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look over the majestic
landscape.
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Their names?
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George washington,
thomas jefferson,
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theodore roosevelt
and abraham lincoln.
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Four iconic representations
of america's dramatic past.
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Mount rushmore is
an extraordinary vision
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when you first see it.
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It's very impressive.
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It's closer in spirit
to an ancient monument.
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It's like one of the, you know,
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the wonders
of the ancient world.
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Today, more than two million
people visit each year
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to gaze in awe at these
silent stone sentinels.
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But was mount rushmore built
merely to allow americans
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to celebrate their history?
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Or is it possible
that it had another,
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even more profound purpose?
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Doane robinson was the
state historian of south dakota
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in the early 1900s.
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He was the original person
to have an idea
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of bringing tourists to his
great state of south dakota.
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His idea was to create these
folkloric sort of characters
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carving from the black hills.
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This sort of shaping of the,
of the, of the very landscape.
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It-it seems
a very american thing.
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Doane robinson envisioned
his monument
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to depict the heroes
of the american west,
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such as lewis and clark,
sacagawea, buffalo bill cody,
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and chief red cloud.
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Doane robinson's original idea
was to bring a sculptor,
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a stone sculptor,
to south dakota to do the job.
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He asked several sculptors
in the united states
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that were unavailable,
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and he read a newspaper article
about the work
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that gutzon borglum was doing
down in stone mountain,
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and got the idea that
he would be available
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to do this kind of massive
sculpture in south dakota.
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Gutzon borglum was
the first american sculptor
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to have a piece of work bought
by the metropolitan museum
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while he was still alive.
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He'd gone and studied in paris
with rodin.
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So he had quite
an impressive career
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by the time he was
contacted by doane
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to go to south dakota.
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Gutzon was a second-generation
american,
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and love for america
was instilled into him
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in the beginning.
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His father was from denmark
and was a mormon missionary,
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and had waited ten years
to get to the united states.
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So he had an appreciation
for american art
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and everything american.
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Gutzon borglum rejected
doane robinson's plan
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to carve depictions
of native americans
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and regional folk heroes.
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As far as he was concerned,
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his masterpiece required figures
of a more national stature.
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He was really looking
for something incredibly grand,
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incredibly splendid,
something for the ages,
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so that his name would
ring down through history.
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So he came up with the idea
of using the presidents.
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But why would such an
accomplished artist
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risk his reputation to pursue
an engineering feat
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that other sculptors had deemed
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not only difficult
but impossible?
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I think he had convinced himself
that he could carve mountains,
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and he wanted to prove
to everybody
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that this could be done.
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He had one dream,
and that was to create something
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on a monumental scale that would
show everybody one man's
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love for his country.
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It just became an obsession.
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To realize this tribute
to america,
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borglum employed a small army
of highly skilled artisans
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to ensure that the beauty
of mount rushmore
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was equal to its enormity.
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People like italian immigrant
luigi del bianco.
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Before
mount rushmore was even carved,
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two years were spent
clearing trees.
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They had to create roads.
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They had to run 20 miles
of electrical cable
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from mount rushmore
to rapid city
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so the pneumatic drills
could be powered,
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or any other kind of,
uh, necessities.
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To get from the staging area
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to the top of the mountain,
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the men had to climb 700 steps,
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which is like climbing halfway
up the empire state building.
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And they had to bring heavy
equipment along with them.
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So, this is a pneumatic drill,
and it probably weighs about...
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I'm gonna say it weighs
about 25 pounds.
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The larger drills were probably
45 pounds.
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And these guys had to use these,
like, up to 12 hours a day.
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After 15 years, 400 men,
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more than 20,000 pounds
of dynamite,
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and the removal of
450,000 tons of rock,
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the work intended to represent
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"the triumph of modern society
and democracy" was complete.
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But there is another feature
of mount rushmore's
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original design that has forced
many historians
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to debate and ponder
gutzon borglum's
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profound reason for
creating the monument.
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There's a valley
right behind the memorial,
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and on the other side
of the valley,
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he had plans of carving a sort
of cave into the mountain.
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Some of the drawings were
that there would be
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a 12-foot entrance, and then
there'd be a big room inside,
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and then he kind of
enlarged that
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to a second big room,
and then there was even talk
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of rooms underneath it.
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It was going to be something
quite monumental...
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Pharaonic in scale, really.
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And the centerpiece of it was
this hall of records,
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which would recount
in very grandiose terms
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the first 150 years
of american history.
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According to surviving
documents,
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borglum's hall of records was
to be an 80-by-120-foot chamber
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deep within the granite
mountain.
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Not unlike a similar chamber
believed to be located
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beneath the paws of the sphinx
in egypt.
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Inside, borglum imagined
the busts of important
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american leaders and innovators
would be put on display
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along with the united states'
most sacred documents,
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including the original
declaration of independence
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and united states constitution.
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But while only a small fraction
of the hall of records
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was ever built,
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one has to wonder,
why did borglum think
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such a remotely located archive
was necessary?
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Gutzon borglum
had always believed
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that you couldn't leave this
for future generations
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and civilizations
without explaining
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what the meaning was
and the message was
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of the mountain...
A massive sculpture
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as a memorial
to the united states.
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Gutzon borglum once
lamented that
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00:08:01,478 --> 00:08:06,063
each succeeding civilization
forgets its predecessor.
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"civilizations," he said,
"are ghouls."
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is it possible that he foresaw
the eventual criticism
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that his work, along with
his previous associations
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with white supremacist groups
like the ku klux klan,
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would eventually receive?
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Well, the stone mountain project
is kind of complicated.
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What it always comes back to
is the ku klux klan.
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And certainly gutzon knew
when he went down there
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that the klan met
at stone mountain.
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And he knew that the backers
were sympathizers.
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He fell in with a bad crowd
as the klan was reviving
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in the early '20s,
and especially in georgia.
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It was very bad judgment.
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And what happened in the end is
he fell out with the klan.
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He fell out with all the people
who were funding him.
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And he just threw
the whole thing aside.
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Perhaps borglum believed
that by enshrining the nation's
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00:09:01,621 --> 00:09:04,622
founding documents
in a stone vault,
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he could protect not only
his greatest work of art
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but his own reputation.
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Unfortunately, we may
never know the truth.
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Gutzon borglum passed away
in 1941,
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before his original design
for mount rushmore
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and the hall of records
could be completed.
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It's a story similar
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to the true purpose behind
another famous u.S. Monument
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not only associated
with dead american presidents
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but with those who lived there.
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Two while staying atther
in a temporary residencedge
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known as the president's house
on 190 high street,
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george washington meets
with the commissioners
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of the newly established
district of columbia
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to announce the winner
of an important
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architectural design contest.
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00:10:03,975 --> 00:10:08,311
The chosen plan
by irish architect james hoban
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was selected from dozens
of submissions,
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all vying to design
what was to be
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the president's permanent home.
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George washington liked
architecture.
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00:10:20,450 --> 00:10:23,409
He was very interested
in houses, symbolism.
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And the white house
is an iconic symbol
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00:10:26,372 --> 00:10:29,332
of the presidency
all over the world today.
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Everything about the white house
is george washington's idea.
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It was really his vision
for the city,
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for the scale of the building,
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for the necessity of it being
built with stone in a time
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when there were no stonecutters
in washington.
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Starting construction in 1792,
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00:10:51,522 --> 00:10:53,814
the president's palace,
as it was then called,
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00:10:53,858 --> 00:10:56,484
took eight years to complete,
at the then cost
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00:10:56,527 --> 00:11:00,404
of approximately $230,000.
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00:11:00,490 --> 00:11:04,659
A relatively modest sum,
even in those days.
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After british troops
set fire to the structure
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00:11:09,957 --> 00:11:11,582
during the war of 1812...
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00:11:14,796 --> 00:11:17,922
...Numerous renovations
and additions expanded
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00:11:17,965 --> 00:11:21,801
the original two-story building
to include colonnades
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00:11:21,886 --> 00:11:24,136
connecting the east
and the west wings,
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00:11:24,222 --> 00:11:26,342
as well as the north
and south porticos.
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00:11:28,226 --> 00:11:31,102
According to the official tour,
the white house
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as we know it today contains
a staggering 132 rooms...
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00:11:37,276 --> 00:11:40,444
...Including 16 family
and guest rooms
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00:11:40,488 --> 00:11:42,697
and 35 bathrooms.
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00:11:44,450 --> 00:11:48,619
55,000 square feet in all,
located on 18 acres
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00:11:48,663 --> 00:11:53,624
in the heart of one of the
busiest cities in the world.
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00:11:53,668 --> 00:11:57,336
Presidents years ago
would entertain everyday people
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00:11:57,422 --> 00:11:58,941
who could just walk
to the white house,
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00:11:58,965 --> 00:12:01,382
get in and talk
to the president.
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00:12:01,426 --> 00:12:03,153
The white house
used to be thought of
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00:12:03,177 --> 00:12:04,593
as the people's house.
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00:12:04,637 --> 00:12:06,490
There are very few areas
in the white house
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that the president
can be truly private.
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00:12:08,349 --> 00:12:13,018
Presidents are living
a very abnormal existence.
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00:12:13,104 --> 00:12:16,605
So you wonder how they get
some sense of normalcy,
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00:12:16,649 --> 00:12:18,899
which you don't get
in the white house.
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00:12:20,528 --> 00:12:21,964
For more than two centuries,
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00:12:21,988 --> 00:12:24,905
the white house has served
as the primary residence
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00:12:24,949 --> 00:12:27,783
of every president
of the united states.
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00:12:27,827 --> 00:12:32,997
But 1600 pennsylvania avenue
is more than simply the home
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00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,291
of the president
and first family.
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00:12:35,334 --> 00:12:39,253
It is also the headquarters
of the executive branch itself.
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00:12:41,966 --> 00:12:44,300
Which have led many to ask:
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00:12:44,343 --> 00:12:46,071
Is there more
about the white house
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00:12:46,095 --> 00:12:50,639
that we don't know, hiding
behind its austere facade?
234
00:12:50,683 --> 00:12:55,186
Experts have long suspected
that top secret tunnels exist
235
00:12:55,229 --> 00:12:58,522
beneath the white house,
enabling the president to travel
236
00:12:58,566 --> 00:13:01,609
throughout the city
entirely unseen.
237
00:13:03,654 --> 00:13:06,822
I was very surprised
to learn the quick routes
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00:13:06,866 --> 00:13:09,742
that needed to be taken
in case of an emergency.
239
00:13:10,828 --> 00:13:13,579
And not something
that I can discuss,
240
00:13:13,664 --> 00:13:15,559
but there are ways
that the president can be moved
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00:13:15,583 --> 00:13:17,561
from point a
to point b very quickly
242
00:13:17,585 --> 00:13:19,168
in an emergency situation.
243
00:13:19,212 --> 00:13:21,670
According to historians,
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00:13:21,714 --> 00:13:24,215
many of the rumors
surrounding such tunnels
245
00:13:24,300 --> 00:13:26,717
and other classified
security features
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00:13:26,761 --> 00:13:30,012
originated during president
harry truman's administration
247
00:13:30,056 --> 00:13:31,972
in the 1940s,
248
00:13:32,016 --> 00:13:35,392
after numerous structural
issues were discovered
249
00:13:35,478 --> 00:13:37,686
throughout the residence.
250
00:13:37,730 --> 00:13:41,774
The white house had nicknames
like a "public shabby house."
251
00:13:41,859 --> 00:13:44,735
there was lots of derogatory
terms about it over the years
252
00:13:44,779 --> 00:13:47,571
because it would fall
in and out of disrepair
253
00:13:47,615 --> 00:13:51,158
depending on how popular
the president was with congress.
254
00:13:52,787 --> 00:13:54,223
And so,
255
00:13:54,247 --> 00:13:57,873
the white house, by the time
president truman was there,
256
00:13:57,917 --> 00:14:00,709
was like a hamburger
someone had sat on.
257
00:14:00,753 --> 00:14:03,420
All the levels
were just squashed.
258
00:14:03,464 --> 00:14:06,257
And the corps of engineers
had been yelling about this
259
00:14:06,300 --> 00:14:07,591
for a long time.
260
00:14:07,635 --> 00:14:11,554
Between 1949 and 1952,
261
00:14:11,597 --> 00:14:14,765
a drastic renovation
was authorized by congress.
262
00:14:14,809 --> 00:14:17,935
Engineers replaced
the wooden subframe
263
00:14:17,979 --> 00:14:20,729
with state-of-the-art
steel beams
264
00:14:20,773 --> 00:14:24,400
and rebuilt the inside from
scratch using modern materials,
265
00:14:24,443 --> 00:14:29,613
leaving only the iconic
sandstone exterior intact.
266
00:14:29,657 --> 00:14:33,242
The white house is a facility
that's... we call it hardened.
267
00:14:33,286 --> 00:14:36,120
A facility that's actually
built to withstand
268
00:14:36,163 --> 00:14:38,455
someone shooting a rifle,
269
00:14:38,499 --> 00:14:40,624
someone bringing
any kind of explosive,
270
00:14:40,668 --> 00:14:44,461
or any kind of threat
to the building.
271
00:14:44,505 --> 00:14:47,131
You want to be able to protect
the people inside the building.
272
00:14:47,174 --> 00:14:50,342
As a result,
some historians have questioned:
273
00:14:50,428 --> 00:14:54,138
Should the modern white house
be considered a residence
274
00:14:54,181 --> 00:14:56,098
or a fortress?
275
00:14:57,351 --> 00:15:00,811
The white house
grounds are protected
276
00:15:00,855 --> 00:15:05,441
by a complete array of sensors
that detect heat, motion.
277
00:15:05,484 --> 00:15:09,445
If anything is detected, the
secret service comes running.
278
00:15:09,488 --> 00:15:11,633
It was realized
you really needed
279
00:15:11,657 --> 00:15:14,700
some kind of a military facility
there in the white house.
280
00:15:14,785 --> 00:15:17,828
And so the situation room
was established
281
00:15:17,872 --> 00:15:19,955
in the west wing
of the white house.
282
00:15:19,999 --> 00:15:22,291
It has an international
top secret,
283
00:15:22,335 --> 00:15:24,668
secure teleconference system
284
00:15:24,712 --> 00:15:29,715
so the president can engage
in face-to-face conversations
285
00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,009
with other leaders of the world.
286
00:15:32,053 --> 00:15:34,720
There's the famous picture
in the situation room
287
00:15:34,805 --> 00:15:37,473
of president obama
and secretary clinton
288
00:15:37,516 --> 00:15:42,311
and the staff during the mission
that went after osama bin laden.
289
00:15:42,355 --> 00:15:45,522
The capability certainly exists,
within the situation room,
290
00:15:45,566 --> 00:15:47,691
to watch live broadcasts.
291
00:15:50,529 --> 00:15:52,549
As a matter
of national security,
292
00:15:52,573 --> 00:15:55,199
the members of the white house
staff are under strict orders
293
00:15:55,242 --> 00:15:57,826
not to reveal the full extent
294
00:15:57,870 --> 00:16:00,245
of the building's
defense infrastructure.
295
00:16:01,332 --> 00:16:03,415
However,
it has been acknowledged
296
00:16:03,501 --> 00:16:05,621
that in addition
to the situation room,
297
00:16:05,670 --> 00:16:07,981
the white house also contains
a bunker-like structure
298
00:16:08,005 --> 00:16:09,713
beneath the east wing
299
00:16:09,799 --> 00:16:13,258
known as the presidential
emergency operations center,
300
00:16:13,344 --> 00:16:15,552
or peoc,
301
00:16:15,596 --> 00:16:19,014
to protect the president
in case of direct attack.
302
00:16:19,058 --> 00:16:22,559
But could the white house's
military capabilities
303
00:16:22,603 --> 00:16:25,688
go even further than that?
304
00:16:25,731 --> 00:16:28,732
Let's just say that, yes,
the white house is capable
305
00:16:28,776 --> 00:16:31,068
of thwarting an attack.
306
00:16:31,112 --> 00:16:34,196
For instance,
if you remember frank corder,
307
00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:37,408
the individual who flew
the airplane onto the south lawn
308
00:16:37,451 --> 00:16:40,244
and that crashed
into the white house itself.
309
00:16:40,287 --> 00:16:43,747
On September 12, 1994,
310
00:16:43,833 --> 00:16:46,417
frank eugene corder,
a 38-year-old army veteran
311
00:16:46,460 --> 00:16:48,585
suffering from depression,
312
00:16:48,629 --> 00:16:52,423
flew a small airplane
directly at the white house
313
00:16:52,508 --> 00:16:55,426
in what is believed to have been
an assassination attempt
314
00:16:55,469 --> 00:16:57,594
on president bill clinton.
315
00:16:59,098 --> 00:17:01,034
Although the official record
states
316
00:17:01,058 --> 00:17:04,226
that corder's plane crashed
before it reached its target,
317
00:17:04,270 --> 00:17:09,565
many believe it was,
in fact, shot down.
318
00:17:09,608 --> 00:17:10,961
People just assumed
319
00:17:10,985 --> 00:17:12,901
that the white house had
320
00:17:12,945 --> 00:17:15,946
all of those defense mechanisms
in place,
321
00:17:15,990 --> 00:17:19,116
and when this cessna
flew into the white house,
322
00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,077
and fortunately
they prevented any penetration
323
00:17:22,121 --> 00:17:25,122
into the interior
of the white house itself.
324
00:17:25,166 --> 00:17:30,586
So, I think that demonstrates
that-that, that it does exist.
325
00:17:30,629 --> 00:17:33,797
Is the white house
a full-fledged battle station,
326
00:17:33,841 --> 00:17:36,175
protected by
antiaircraft missiles
327
00:17:36,260 --> 00:17:38,469
and other covert armaments?
328
00:17:38,512 --> 00:17:41,680
And if so, what about
the other prominent structures
329
00:17:41,766 --> 00:17:45,267
located in our nation's capital?
330
00:17:45,311 --> 00:17:50,314
May they also be hiding secrets
in plain sight?
331
00:17:50,357 --> 00:17:53,150
There are many who believe
that the answer lies
332
00:17:53,194 --> 00:17:56,111
just a few yards away
within the very heart
333
00:17:56,155 --> 00:17:57,988
of the capitol dome.
334
00:18:09,126 --> 00:18:11,938
Gstands what is perhapsd
the single greatest monument
335
00:18:11,962 --> 00:18:13,962
to democracy in the world,
336
00:18:14,006 --> 00:18:17,257
the united states
capitol building.
337
00:18:18,427 --> 00:18:20,322
The iconic dome at the center
is flanked
338
00:18:20,346 --> 00:18:22,638
by two nearly identical wings.
339
00:18:22,681 --> 00:18:24,932
The north,
which houses the senate,
340
00:18:24,975 --> 00:18:28,602
and the south, which houses
the house of representatives.
341
00:18:28,646 --> 00:18:31,730
The vast sandstone-clad
structure contains
342
00:18:31,774 --> 00:18:37,569
some 600 rooms and covers
approximately four acres.
343
00:18:37,613 --> 00:18:40,072
It's designed to radiate power.
344
00:18:40,116 --> 00:18:42,491
And as one stands here,
one can feel themselves
345
00:18:42,535 --> 00:18:44,554
just being
lifted up by its presence.
346
00:18:44,578 --> 00:18:47,496
And it was designed
to be that way.
347
00:18:47,540 --> 00:18:49,518
As with the white house,
348
00:18:49,542 --> 00:18:53,669
the cornerstone ceremony was
presided over by freemasons.
349
00:18:53,712 --> 00:18:58,006
At 10:00 a.M.
On September 18, 1793,
350
00:18:58,050 --> 00:19:01,635
crowds gathered to watch
george washington
351
00:19:01,679 --> 00:19:04,847
carefully anoint
a massive stone block
352
00:19:04,890 --> 00:19:07,558
with corn, oil and wine.
353
00:19:07,601 --> 00:19:10,352
He then struck it three times
with a gavel
354
00:19:10,396 --> 00:19:12,729
to announce the
laying of the cornerstone...
355
00:19:14,733 --> 00:19:16,628
...For the building
intended to become
356
00:19:16,652 --> 00:19:20,362
the heart
of america's new democracy.
357
00:19:20,406 --> 00:19:24,366
When freemasons
conduct such a ceremony,
358
00:19:24,410 --> 00:19:26,535
they're basically
sending a message
359
00:19:26,579 --> 00:19:30,247
to the people who are going
to work out of that edifice
360
00:19:30,291 --> 00:19:35,252
that their main mission
is not to rule over people.
361
00:19:35,296 --> 00:19:37,963
George washington wanted
to send that powerful message,
362
00:19:38,007 --> 00:19:42,843
"this is the symbol
of this new american republic."
363
00:19:44,555 --> 00:19:47,701
Seven years after construction
on the capitol began,
364
00:19:47,725 --> 00:19:50,726
the united states congress
held its first session
365
00:19:50,769 --> 00:19:53,187
on November 17, 1800.
366
00:19:54,231 --> 00:19:55,606
As the number of states
367
00:19:55,649 --> 00:19:58,901
admitted to the nation
grew over the next 50 years,
368
00:19:58,944 --> 00:20:00,672
the design
of the original buildings
369
00:20:00,696 --> 00:20:03,530
continued to expand
in order to accommodate
370
00:20:03,574 --> 00:20:06,992
the increasing number
of legislators in congress.
371
00:20:07,036 --> 00:20:09,620
But there is one fact
about the capitol dome
372
00:20:09,663 --> 00:20:11,622
that is less well-known,
373
00:20:11,665 --> 00:20:14,833
and it's not about what lies
on top of the building
374
00:20:14,877 --> 00:20:17,753
but what lies deep below.
375
00:20:17,796 --> 00:20:19,649
Beneath that is what's called
376
00:20:19,673 --> 00:20:21,256
the crypt.
377
00:20:21,300 --> 00:20:23,550
This is fascinating
because civic buildings
378
00:20:23,594 --> 00:20:24,968
are not supposed to have crypts.
379
00:20:25,012 --> 00:20:28,597
Churches have crypts.
Cemeteries have crypts.
380
00:20:28,641 --> 00:20:31,433
But the u.S. Capitol
has a crypt. Why?
381
00:20:31,477 --> 00:20:34,394
A crypt?
382
00:20:34,438 --> 00:20:36,082
According to historians,
the crypt
383
00:20:36,106 --> 00:20:38,210
below the capitol dome's rotunda
was intended
384
00:20:38,234 --> 00:20:41,360
to be the burial place
for george washington,
385
00:20:41,403 --> 00:20:44,947
similar to the burial places
of english kings
386
00:20:44,990 --> 00:20:47,658
beneath the floors
of the british cathedrals.
387
00:20:47,701 --> 00:20:50,619
However, by the time
the construction
388
00:20:50,663 --> 00:20:53,622
of the crypt was completed
in 1827,
389
00:20:53,666 --> 00:20:57,125
washington, who strongly
rejected any notion
390
00:20:57,169 --> 00:20:59,189
that he should be regarded
as a king,
391
00:20:59,213 --> 00:21:03,423
had already been buried
at his home in mount vernon.
392
00:21:03,467 --> 00:21:06,677
Washington's family,
out of respect for his wishes,
393
00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,763
now refused to move his body
to washington.
394
00:21:09,807 --> 00:21:13,225
But even though the crypt
beneath the capitol is empty,
395
00:21:13,269 --> 00:21:16,853
george washington's presence
can still be felt
396
00:21:16,897 --> 00:21:19,481
all over the capitol.
397
00:21:19,525 --> 00:21:22,128
One of the most fascinating
parts of the capitol
398
00:21:22,152 --> 00:21:23,880
is the rotunda,
which is at the heart;
399
00:21:23,904 --> 00:21:25,195
it's a circle.
400
00:21:25,239 --> 00:21:29,533
And if you look above,
you see a beautiful painting
401
00:21:29,576 --> 00:21:32,828
of the apotheosis
of george washington.
402
00:21:32,871 --> 00:21:36,164
It's an enormous painting
that depicts washington
403
00:21:36,208 --> 00:21:39,167
as you would see a god depicted.
404
00:21:39,211 --> 00:21:42,587
He sits in a setting of clouds
405
00:21:42,631 --> 00:21:47,301
with what look like angels
immediately surrounding him.
406
00:21:47,344 --> 00:21:49,322
The apotheosis
of george washington
407
00:21:49,346 --> 00:21:53,056
was completed
by constantino brumidi in 1865.
408
00:21:53,100 --> 00:21:55,142
The word "apotheosis"
is a greek word
409
00:21:55,185 --> 00:21:57,894
that means to deify;
to raise from a man
410
00:21:57,938 --> 00:22:01,857
to a god-man,
or to achieve glory.
411
00:22:01,900 --> 00:22:05,527
And when one achieves glory,
one glows rays,
412
00:22:05,571 --> 00:22:07,362
just like the gods.
413
00:22:07,406 --> 00:22:10,282
Who's buried
in washington's tomb?
414
00:22:10,326 --> 00:22:11,867
Nobody.
415
00:22:11,910 --> 00:22:14,036
Because he's up on the ceiling.
416
00:22:14,079 --> 00:22:16,496
He's raised himself
from the tomb,
417
00:22:16,540 --> 00:22:20,083
gone up through the rotunda
and up through the sun gate
418
00:22:20,127 --> 00:22:22,085
that leads to heaven.
419
00:22:22,129 --> 00:22:24,254
He is a deity.
420
00:22:26,508 --> 00:22:29,801
Could the apotheosisof washington be a clue
421
00:22:29,845 --> 00:22:32,721
that america's founding fathers
actually intended
422
00:22:32,765 --> 00:22:36,975
the united states be built upon
not only the laws of man
423
00:22:37,019 --> 00:22:42,439
but also divine forces
beyond our understanding?
424
00:22:42,483 --> 00:22:44,232
Perhaps.
425
00:22:44,276 --> 00:22:47,944
But the story of the capitol
building becomes even stranger
426
00:22:47,988 --> 00:22:52,699
when you consider what stands
atop the iconic dome.
427
00:22:52,743 --> 00:22:54,637
The freedom statue
on top of the capitol
428
00:22:54,661 --> 00:22:59,289
is a 19 1/2-foot-tall statue
of an iroquois goddess
429
00:22:59,333 --> 00:23:02,292
who actually is morphing
into an eagle.
430
00:23:03,712 --> 00:23:06,671
This is very important
because the ancient gods
431
00:23:06,715 --> 00:23:08,590
were portrayed as eagle-headed.
432
00:23:08,634 --> 00:23:11,343
Nimrod was taken into
the heavens by eagles.
433
00:23:11,387 --> 00:23:13,303
So was zeus.
434
00:23:13,347 --> 00:23:18,350
And also with the legends of
the iroquois native americans.
435
00:23:20,020 --> 00:23:26,400
The iroquois creation story
of sky woman, uh, is basically:
436
00:23:26,443 --> 00:23:30,570
Before earth really became
what it is today,
437
00:23:30,614 --> 00:23:33,573
there were beings
that were similar to us
438
00:23:33,617 --> 00:23:35,534
living in the sky.
439
00:23:35,577 --> 00:23:39,371
One day, a young woman,
sky woman, became pregnant.
440
00:23:39,415 --> 00:23:43,500
She is to go down
to the world below.
441
00:23:43,544 --> 00:23:48,505
And so this extraterrestrial
that lived in the sky...
442
00:23:48,549 --> 00:23:52,759
She comes down
and then the human race begins.
443
00:23:55,305 --> 00:23:58,306
An extraterrestrial
that came down to earth
444
00:23:58,350 --> 00:24:01,726
from the sky?
445
00:24:01,770 --> 00:24:05,063
But if so, how did this figure
from iroquois mythology
446
00:24:05,107 --> 00:24:08,442
come to be standing atop
america's capitol building?
447
00:24:10,112 --> 00:24:13,238
At the debate on the
declaration of independence,
448
00:24:13,282 --> 00:24:16,992
the iroquois chiefs
were specifically invited.
449
00:24:17,035 --> 00:24:21,872
And over 40 of them came
to philadelphia
450
00:24:21,915 --> 00:24:24,541
in may of 1776.
451
00:24:24,585 --> 00:24:27,878
And they stayed there
on through the debating
452
00:24:27,921 --> 00:24:31,923
and passage of the
declaration of independence.
453
00:24:31,967 --> 00:24:35,218
Their presence was
so important because
454
00:24:35,262 --> 00:24:38,597
if half your economy is
trading with native americans,
455
00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,224
then you have to learn about
how the community,
456
00:24:41,268 --> 00:24:42,434
their government runs,
457
00:24:42,478 --> 00:24:45,770
you have to learn about
the culture.
458
00:24:45,814 --> 00:24:48,148
Benjamin franklin,
in particular,
459
00:24:48,192 --> 00:24:51,526
was deeply interested in
the star legends and star lore
460
00:24:51,570 --> 00:24:53,445
of the iroquois confederacy.
461
00:24:53,489 --> 00:24:56,114
So when we add all this
together, it looks like
462
00:24:56,158 --> 00:24:58,052
the freedom statue is
being referenced here
463
00:24:58,076 --> 00:24:59,618
as a star being.
464
00:25:00,996 --> 00:25:03,914
An empty crypt
beneath the rotunda.
465
00:25:03,957 --> 00:25:07,834
George washington portrayed
as a god.
466
00:25:07,878 --> 00:25:11,630
And a statue of an iroquois
star goddess.
467
00:25:11,673 --> 00:25:14,716
Might the united states
capitol building reveal that
468
00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:16,571
america's most important
monuments serve
469
00:25:16,595 --> 00:25:19,471
not just
an architectural purpose
470
00:25:19,515 --> 00:25:22,307
but also a spiritual one?
471
00:25:22,351 --> 00:25:26,728
Many believe the answer is yes,
and suggest that for the proof,
472
00:25:26,772 --> 00:25:31,274
we need only look to one of our
most iconic national monuments:
473
00:25:31,318 --> 00:25:37,113
A giant stone obelisk
whose history is as fascinating
474
00:25:37,157 --> 00:25:39,866
as the u.S. President
for whom it was named.
475
00:25:50,170 --> 00:25:52,148
Iafter an extensivee
three-year renovation,
476
00:25:52,172 --> 00:25:54,839
including significant
security enhancements
477
00:25:54,883 --> 00:25:58,343
to make it nearly invulnerable
to terrorist attacks,
478
00:25:58,387 --> 00:26:01,555
the washington monument,
a towering memorial
479
00:26:01,598 --> 00:26:03,765
dedicated to america's
first president,
480
00:26:03,809 --> 00:26:07,352
finally reopens
to an eager public.
481
00:26:07,396 --> 00:26:11,064
The washington monument is
such an important place
482
00:26:11,108 --> 00:26:14,693
in the american narrative
because of what it represents.
483
00:26:16,071 --> 00:26:19,197
It represents
george washington himself
484
00:26:19,241 --> 00:26:23,702
and his important position
in the building of our nation.
485
00:26:23,745 --> 00:26:26,454
It is a ray of light
descending from the heavens,
486
00:26:26,498 --> 00:26:27,789
or inspiration itself,
487
00:26:27,833 --> 00:26:30,166
just as he was that
to the young nation.
488
00:26:32,462 --> 00:26:34,422
First unveiled in 1884,
489
00:26:34,464 --> 00:26:37,882
and standing 555 feet tall,
490
00:26:37,926 --> 00:26:39,926
the washington monument
is not only
491
00:26:39,970 --> 00:26:42,178
the tallest structure
in washington, d.C.,
492
00:26:42,222 --> 00:26:46,558
but the tallest stone structure
in the world.
493
00:26:46,602 --> 00:26:49,060
It is a feat made
even more incredible
494
00:26:49,104 --> 00:26:53,148
by the fact that
the 36,491 blocks
495
00:26:53,191 --> 00:26:55,567
of marbled granite
and bluestone gneiss
496
00:26:55,611 --> 00:26:57,694
that comprise
the washington monument
497
00:26:57,738 --> 00:27:00,822
are only held together
by gravity and friction,
498
00:27:00,866 --> 00:27:04,326
without any mortar whatsoever.
499
00:27:04,369 --> 00:27:06,661
Most people look
at the washington monument
500
00:27:06,705 --> 00:27:09,581
and they see a huge obelisk,
501
00:27:09,625 --> 00:27:12,000
but I doubt that
very many people at all
502
00:27:12,044 --> 00:27:15,337
know every stone
in the monument is unique.
503
00:27:15,380 --> 00:27:17,797
Every stone has its own story,
504
00:27:17,841 --> 00:27:19,924
and they all have secrets.
505
00:27:21,136 --> 00:27:24,095
Secrets? In the stones?
506
00:27:24,139 --> 00:27:26,931
Most who visit
the washington monument
507
00:27:26,975 --> 00:27:29,601
immediately notice
a slight variation
508
00:27:29,645 --> 00:27:31,728
in the color of
the stone facade,
509
00:27:31,772 --> 00:27:35,190
indicating the towering spire
likely underwent
510
00:27:35,233 --> 00:27:38,443
a troubled period
during its construction.
511
00:27:38,487 --> 00:27:42,530
The monument's origins
date back to 1833,
512
00:27:42,574 --> 00:27:44,532
when a group of citizens called
513
00:27:44,576 --> 00:27:47,410
the washington national
monument society
514
00:27:47,454 --> 00:27:49,120
took charge of the project
515
00:27:49,164 --> 00:27:53,208
and selected a design
by architect robert mills.
516
00:27:53,251 --> 00:27:56,753
Robert mills' original design
for a washington monument
517
00:27:56,797 --> 00:27:59,839
was that of a 600-foot shaft,
518
00:27:59,883 --> 00:28:03,134
a obelisk with a much
flatter pyramidion
519
00:28:03,178 --> 00:28:05,406
than that which now bedecks
the washington monument
520
00:28:05,430 --> 00:28:07,389
we all know.
521
00:28:07,432 --> 00:28:09,369
And it would have
a colonnade surrounding
522
00:28:09,393 --> 00:28:13,061
the washington monument's
central shaft of statuary
523
00:28:13,105 --> 00:28:16,439
of the founding fathers
that supported george washington
524
00:28:16,483 --> 00:28:18,483
in the building of the nation.
525
00:28:18,527 --> 00:28:21,444
On July 4, 1848,
526
00:28:21,488 --> 00:28:23,508
thousands of people
gathered on the hillside
527
00:28:23,532 --> 00:28:25,990
just south of the white house
to commemorate
528
00:28:26,034 --> 00:28:28,868
the long-awaited start
of construction
529
00:28:28,912 --> 00:28:30,745
on the washington monument.
530
00:28:30,789 --> 00:28:33,790
What they witnessed wasn't
merely the laying
531
00:28:33,834 --> 00:28:36,000
of the ceremonial cornerstone
532
00:28:36,044 --> 00:28:39,671
but an elaborate
freemason ritual.
533
00:28:39,715 --> 00:28:42,235
The freemasons were
very instrumental
534
00:28:42,259 --> 00:28:43,569
in the building
of the washington monument
535
00:28:43,593 --> 00:28:45,321
because, of course,
the subject matter
536
00:28:45,345 --> 00:28:47,846
that the monument honors...
George washington himself...
537
00:28:47,889 --> 00:28:51,266
Being a very prominent
freemason.
538
00:28:51,309 --> 00:28:55,603
They wore
george washington's sash.
539
00:28:55,647 --> 00:28:58,398
They wore his apron.
540
00:28:58,442 --> 00:29:01,568
And they had his gavel.
541
00:29:01,611 --> 00:29:06,698
you were identifying with
the father of our country.
542
00:29:06,742 --> 00:29:08,136
And then, of course,
a few years later,
543
00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:10,285
the civil war intervened,
and that led to
544
00:29:10,328 --> 00:29:12,579
enormous delays in
constructing the monument.
545
00:29:12,622 --> 00:29:14,914
After a lot of delay,
546
00:29:14,958 --> 00:29:17,019
the construction
of the washington monument
547
00:29:17,043 --> 00:29:18,835
is jump-started again.
548
00:29:19,963 --> 00:29:21,607
When construction resumes,
549
00:29:21,631 --> 00:29:23,359
the stones used to
complete the monument
550
00:29:23,383 --> 00:29:25,091
came from a different quarry.
551
00:29:25,135 --> 00:29:27,886
This explains why
there is a visible difference
552
00:29:27,929 --> 00:29:30,221
in the color
of the stones today.
553
00:29:30,265 --> 00:29:33,558
Also different is
the final design.
554
00:29:33,602 --> 00:29:36,478
Mills's grandiose vision
for the washington monument
555
00:29:36,521 --> 00:29:38,271
was replaced by a simpler
556
00:29:38,315 --> 00:29:41,232
and perhaps
even more striking design...
557
00:29:41,276 --> 00:29:45,111
A single, towering obelisk.
558
00:29:45,155 --> 00:29:47,655
But what could have inspired
the use of a symbol
559
00:29:47,699 --> 00:29:52,327
from ancient egypt to honor
the most venerated
560
00:29:52,370 --> 00:29:54,871
of american presidents?
561
00:29:54,915 --> 00:29:58,500
It is no coincidence
that obelisks are used
562
00:29:58,543 --> 00:30:01,294
as symbols in the rituals
of freemasonry.
563
00:30:01,338 --> 00:30:03,588
The egyptians were
great builders.
564
00:30:03,632 --> 00:30:05,693
And here, we're not talking
anymore only about
565
00:30:05,717 --> 00:30:07,361
building structures,
physical structures.
566
00:30:07,385 --> 00:30:10,220
We're talking about
creating, also, a link
567
00:30:10,263 --> 00:30:12,972
between the physical earth,
where we live,
568
00:30:13,016 --> 00:30:16,434
and what is happening
in the universe around us.
569
00:30:16,478 --> 00:30:20,647
The language of freemasonry
is a language of symbols.
570
00:30:20,690 --> 00:30:22,460
And there is
a fundamental reason for that.
571
00:30:22,484 --> 00:30:27,153
By using a language of symbols,
you can talk about ideas
572
00:30:27,197 --> 00:30:31,658
that free the mind
with some form of safety.
573
00:30:31,701 --> 00:30:34,869
There are important symbols
574
00:30:34,913 --> 00:30:37,580
within the washington monument.
575
00:30:37,624 --> 00:30:39,811
When you get in the elevator
and you go up,
576
00:30:39,835 --> 00:30:42,710
above one of the elevator doors
577
00:30:42,754 --> 00:30:47,674
is a winged disc
with a six-pointed star
578
00:30:47,717 --> 00:30:50,510
in that disc.
579
00:30:50,554 --> 00:30:54,514
That winged disc goes back
to egyptian mythologies
580
00:30:54,558 --> 00:30:58,977
and indicated elevation
of consciousness.
581
00:30:59,020 --> 00:31:01,354
We're getting in this elevator,
moving into
582
00:31:01,398 --> 00:31:04,440
the higher spiritual dimensions,
583
00:31:04,484 --> 00:31:07,026
with the six-pointed star
in the middle!
584
00:31:08,905 --> 00:31:12,323
The aluminum tip on top
of the washington monument
585
00:31:12,367 --> 00:31:15,535
was placed there
December 6, 1884
586
00:31:15,579 --> 00:31:18,580
upon the completion of this
structure as a crowning act.
587
00:31:18,623 --> 00:31:21,457
Engraved upon it, two words:
588
00:31:21,501 --> 00:31:24,544
"laus deo,"
or "praise be to god,"
589
00:31:24,588 --> 00:31:26,212
facing to the east.
590
00:31:26,256 --> 00:31:28,756
And as those two words
face to the east,
591
00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:32,886
the sun rises but never sets
upon those words.
592
00:31:34,890 --> 00:31:36,764
Is the washington monument
593
00:31:36,808 --> 00:31:39,893
a glorious memorial
to a great man?
594
00:31:39,936 --> 00:31:43,897
Or is it also a tribute
to the role freemasonry played
595
00:31:43,940 --> 00:31:47,275
in the founding
of the united states?
596
00:31:47,319 --> 00:31:50,778
There are many who believe
that both things are true,
597
00:31:50,822 --> 00:31:52,800
and that the mystery
of america's obsession
598
00:31:52,824 --> 00:31:54,886
with tall buildings
can best be answered
599
00:31:54,910 --> 00:31:57,076
by examining the story
of a building
600
00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,662
that, while no longer
the world's tallest,
601
00:31:59,706 --> 00:32:02,665
is still one of its most famous,
602
00:32:02,709 --> 00:32:05,877
the empire state building.
603
00:32:14,054 --> 00:32:15,907
After four years
the eof construction, d
604
00:32:15,931 --> 00:32:17,825
the empire state building's
remodeled
605
00:32:17,849 --> 00:32:22,644
102nd floor observatory is
finally revealed to the public.
606
00:32:22,687 --> 00:32:26,648
Costing a staggering
$165 million,
607
00:32:26,691 --> 00:32:30,818
the renovation also includes
a 10,000-square-foot museum
608
00:32:30,862 --> 00:32:33,529
and an all-new observation deck,
609
00:32:33,573 --> 00:32:38,117
offering visitors a 360-degree
view from atop the building,
610
00:32:38,161 --> 00:32:42,914
one that has often been called
the eighth wonder of the world.
611
00:32:43,959 --> 00:32:45,708
The empire state building,
612
00:32:45,752 --> 00:32:49,045
almost more than any other
building, represents new york.
613
00:32:49,089 --> 00:32:52,924
Great look, a great presence.
614
00:32:53,009 --> 00:32:54,842
It's called the "it factor."
615
00:32:54,886 --> 00:32:57,887
people have it,
buildings have it,
616
00:32:57,931 --> 00:33:00,390
and the empire state building
has the it factor.
617
00:33:00,433 --> 00:33:06,813
Designated a national
historic landmark in 1986,
618
00:33:06,856 --> 00:33:09,168
many consider the empire state
building to be not only
619
00:33:09,192 --> 00:33:11,901
the most recognizable
building in new york city
620
00:33:11,945 --> 00:33:14,529
but also the entire world.
621
00:33:14,572 --> 00:33:18,658
Over 20,000 people arrive
to work here every day,
622
00:33:18,702 --> 00:33:21,661
taking one of the 73 elevators
to offices
623
00:33:21,705 --> 00:33:25,289
located across 103 floors,
624
00:33:25,375 --> 00:33:30,086
nearly 2.7 million square feet
of office space in all.
625
00:33:30,130 --> 00:33:34,048
In fact, the 1,454-foot
building is so large,
626
00:33:34,092 --> 00:33:37,593
it was even given
its own zip code.
627
00:33:39,431 --> 00:33:41,472
Originally designed
to be a symbol
628
00:33:41,558 --> 00:33:45,226
of america's indomitable
spirit and ingenuity,
629
00:33:45,270 --> 00:33:47,562
until 1972
the empire state building
630
00:33:47,605 --> 00:33:52,942
enjoyed its unique status
as the world's tallest building.
631
00:33:53,028 --> 00:33:56,320
The empire state building was
scheduled to be a thousand feet.
632
00:33:56,406 --> 00:33:59,323
The chrysler building was 1,046.
633
00:33:59,409 --> 00:34:01,178
So they determined
that they would ensure
634
00:34:01,202 --> 00:34:04,454
that they would be
the world's tallest building
635
00:34:04,497 --> 00:34:09,917
by adding a 200-foot-high mast
atop the building.
636
00:34:09,961 --> 00:34:13,796
You could almost call it
the race of the titans.
637
00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:18,092
The idea for the world's tallest
tower always gains attention.
638
00:34:18,136 --> 00:34:21,179
And there is a certain kind
of status that's given
639
00:34:21,264 --> 00:34:23,973
to any building
that's going to break a record,
640
00:34:24,059 --> 00:34:26,299
because it certainly
is a signal achievement.
641
00:34:27,103 --> 00:34:28,622
As anticipated,
642
00:34:28,646 --> 00:34:30,458
when the empire state building
finally opened
643
00:34:30,482 --> 00:34:34,817
on may 1, 1931,
its coveted status
644
00:34:34,903 --> 00:34:36,756
as the tallest building
in the world
645
00:34:36,780 --> 00:34:39,614
brought it international renown.
646
00:34:39,657 --> 00:34:43,284
But why construct
a building to tower
647
00:34:43,328 --> 00:34:45,828
more than a thousand feet
above the earth?
648
00:34:45,914 --> 00:34:48,498
If monuments
like the capitol building
649
00:34:48,541 --> 00:34:51,042
and the washington monument
are meant to symbolize
650
00:34:51,127 --> 00:34:53,920
a connection to something
greater than ourselves,
651
00:34:53,963 --> 00:34:56,672
could the empire state building
be an attempt
652
00:34:56,758 --> 00:35:01,719
to literally ascend from
the earth and touch the heavens?
653
00:35:03,348 --> 00:35:04,950
The thrill of being at the top
654
00:35:04,974 --> 00:35:06,516
of the empire state building
655
00:35:06,559 --> 00:35:09,852
is, is really to-to be
above it all.
656
00:35:09,896 --> 00:35:11,646
To look out to the harbor
657
00:35:11,689 --> 00:35:17,151
and have the, the thrill
of nearly infinite vision.
658
00:35:17,195 --> 00:35:19,695
There are many
historical paradigms
659
00:35:19,739 --> 00:35:22,949
to summarize the achievements
through the ages.
660
00:35:22,992 --> 00:35:25,910
For the romans
it might be the pantheon,
661
00:35:25,995 --> 00:35:29,038
for the greeks
it might be the parthenon,
662
00:35:29,082 --> 00:35:32,166
but the empire state building
summarizes the idea
663
00:35:32,210 --> 00:35:37,505
about what america wanted
to be in the 20th century.
664
00:35:37,549 --> 00:35:39,882
According to historians,
665
00:35:39,926 --> 00:35:42,844
the romantic notion
of being above it all
666
00:35:42,887 --> 00:35:44,887
was taken to the extreme
667
00:35:44,973 --> 00:35:48,057
when the empire state building
first opened.
668
00:35:49,144 --> 00:35:50,663
The stock market was going up,
669
00:35:50,687 --> 00:35:53,604
real estate investment
was rampant.
670
00:35:53,690 --> 00:35:56,566
They needed to have some
extra measure of modernity
671
00:35:56,609 --> 00:36:01,404
that signaled that this building
not just stood above the rest
672
00:36:01,447 --> 00:36:04,740
but participated
in this upper stratum
673
00:36:04,784 --> 00:36:06,742
of the-the world of business.
674
00:36:06,786 --> 00:36:10,371
So they imagined that they would
add a docking station
675
00:36:10,415 --> 00:36:14,000
for dirigibles,
for the zeppelins.
676
00:36:15,962 --> 00:36:18,296
A dirigible docking station?
677
00:36:18,381 --> 00:36:21,424
Is it possible
that the empire state building,
678
00:36:21,509 --> 00:36:23,426
hailed as a symbol of america's
679
00:36:23,469 --> 00:36:25,197
can-do attitude
and industrial might,
680
00:36:25,221 --> 00:36:30,016
was actually envisioned to be
the world's tallest airport?
681
00:36:32,061 --> 00:36:35,438
They said, "we will drag it
into the building,
682
00:36:35,481 --> 00:36:36,981
crank it down."
683
00:36:37,025 --> 00:36:42,403
the dirigible can be moored
to the top of the mooring mast.
684
00:36:42,447 --> 00:36:45,281
A gangplank can be dropped
to the 103rd floor
685
00:36:45,325 --> 00:36:50,244
where there was a platform
that ringed to the building.
686
00:36:50,288 --> 00:36:54,790
And the passengers
can de-dirigible
687
00:36:54,834 --> 00:37:01,297
down the gangplank
1,250 feet in the air.
688
00:37:01,341 --> 00:37:04,884
It was the looniest building
scheme since the tower of babel.
689
00:37:06,054 --> 00:37:07,489
The first test
690
00:37:07,513 --> 00:37:10,264
of the empire state building's
docking station
691
00:37:10,308 --> 00:37:11,933
was a massive failure.
692
00:37:11,976 --> 00:37:15,019
Although workers managed
to pass a mailbag
693
00:37:15,104 --> 00:37:18,231
over from the top of the tower,
the tethered airship was rocked
694
00:37:18,274 --> 00:37:22,777
by high winds
while attempting to dock.
695
00:37:22,820 --> 00:37:26,322
After the hindenburg disaster
in 1937,
696
00:37:26,366 --> 00:37:28,991
the notion
of commercial dirigible travel
697
00:37:29,035 --> 00:37:31,369
was abandoned altogether.
698
00:37:31,454 --> 00:37:34,622
A fate that fortunately
would not befall
699
00:37:34,666 --> 00:37:36,832
another great american monument,
700
00:37:36,876 --> 00:37:39,669
one that thousands of people
travel across every day,
701
00:37:39,712 --> 00:37:42,004
despite the possibility
702
00:37:42,048 --> 00:37:44,382
of catastrophic
structural collapse.
703
00:37:55,353 --> 00:37:59,272
In celebration
of its 50th anniversary,
704
00:37:59,315 --> 00:38:01,252
hundreds of thousands
of people gather
705
00:38:01,276 --> 00:38:05,194
to walk across one
of america's greatest monuments,
706
00:38:05,238 --> 00:38:08,030
the golden gate bridge.
707
00:38:08,116 --> 00:38:11,450
Designed by engineer
leon moisseiff,
708
00:38:11,494 --> 00:38:16,414
the 887,000-ton bridge
measures 1.7 miles across
709
00:38:16,457 --> 00:38:18,499
and is suspended
by two main cables,
710
00:38:18,543 --> 00:38:24,630
each 7,659 feet long
and over three feet in diameter.
711
00:38:24,674 --> 00:38:27,550
And although more than
100,000 vehicles
712
00:38:27,635 --> 00:38:30,553
commute across
the bridge every day,
713
00:38:30,596 --> 00:38:35,224
on this day
it begins to groan and sag
714
00:38:35,268 --> 00:38:40,313
under the load of 300,000 people
on it at once.
715
00:38:41,357 --> 00:38:43,232
There was a weeklong fiesta.
716
00:38:43,318 --> 00:38:47,069
Schools closed, parades, bands.
717
00:38:47,113 --> 00:38:49,280
It was just everyone
in san francisco,
718
00:38:49,324 --> 00:38:51,135
marin county,
and the counties to the north
719
00:38:51,159 --> 00:38:54,243
came to celebrate
the opening of this bridge.
720
00:38:54,287 --> 00:38:56,704
Two crowds, one from the north
and one to the south
721
00:38:56,789 --> 00:38:58,809
came together in the middle
of the bridge
722
00:38:58,833 --> 00:39:01,751
with no place to go and it got
to be a crush loading.
723
00:39:01,794 --> 00:39:03,856
There were so many people
on the bridge
724
00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:05,316
that that vertical curve
of the bridge
725
00:39:05,340 --> 00:39:06,797
was flattened, straight out,
726
00:39:06,841 --> 00:39:09,717
deflected something
on the order of 20 feet.
727
00:39:09,761 --> 00:39:11,530
The bridge
was swarmed with people,
728
00:39:11,554 --> 00:39:14,680
and it was probably the biggest
load the bridge has ever seen.
729
00:39:16,642 --> 00:39:20,186
As sudden winds
cause the bridge to sway,
730
00:39:20,229 --> 00:39:24,106
the pedestrians begin to panic,
fearing the span will collapse.
731
00:39:24,192 --> 00:39:26,317
Their fears
are heightened by the fact
732
00:39:26,361 --> 00:39:29,570
that a similar
leon moisseiff-designed bridge
733
00:39:29,614 --> 00:39:34,241
collapsed in tacoma, washington
nearly 50 years earlier.
734
00:39:34,285 --> 00:39:36,911
Moisseiff's ambition
was to make bridges
735
00:39:36,954 --> 00:39:40,706
higher, longer and lighter.
736
00:39:40,750 --> 00:39:43,250
But in the case
of the tacoma bridge,
737
00:39:43,294 --> 00:39:45,461
he made it too aerodynamic.
738
00:39:47,131 --> 00:39:50,716
so the bridge began
to move with the winds,
739
00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:55,221
and it set up a process in which
the, the bridge collapsed.
740
00:40:02,188 --> 00:40:04,375
Fortunately,
the golden gate bridge
741
00:40:04,399 --> 00:40:06,649
did not share the fate
of the tacoma bridge,
742
00:40:06,734 --> 00:40:10,694
and the massive crowd
escaped unscathed,
743
00:40:10,738 --> 00:40:12,800
although authorities
no longer permit
744
00:40:12,824 --> 00:40:15,491
mass gatherings on the bridge.
745
00:40:15,576 --> 00:40:17,660
It was a rather
frightening moment
746
00:40:17,745 --> 00:40:19,328
with what could have been
747
00:40:19,414 --> 00:40:22,415
the greatest
civil engineering disaster
748
00:40:22,458 --> 00:40:25,376
in the history
of the human race.
749
00:40:25,420 --> 00:40:29,004
Fortunately, retrofitting that
had been recently accomplished
750
00:40:29,090 --> 00:40:32,049
enabled the bridge
to go through that difficulty.
751
00:40:33,094 --> 00:40:35,280
But if the tacoma bridge
suffered
752
00:40:35,304 --> 00:40:38,431
a catastrophic collapse,
what made the builders
753
00:40:38,474 --> 00:40:40,119
of the golden gate bridge
think they could build
754
00:40:40,143 --> 00:40:42,518
an even longer
and more ambitious bridge
755
00:40:42,603 --> 00:40:46,522
and yet not suffer
a similar fate?
756
00:40:46,607 --> 00:40:49,483
Particularly when no one
at the time
757
00:40:49,527 --> 00:40:55,865
had ever built a suspension
bridge anywhere near its size?
758
00:40:55,908 --> 00:40:58,451
Moisseiff's key contribution
was the towers.
759
00:40:58,494 --> 00:41:00,870
He took the towers
higher and higher
760
00:41:00,955 --> 00:41:03,414
than previously anybody thought
could be done.
761
00:41:03,458 --> 00:41:06,834
And that allowed the bridge
to spin suspension cables
762
00:41:06,919 --> 00:41:08,919
over a greater distance,
763
00:41:08,963 --> 00:41:11,964
which allowed the golden gate
strait to be spanned.
764
00:41:13,176 --> 00:41:15,529
When we look at the success
of the golden gate bridge,
765
00:41:15,553 --> 00:41:18,220
the beauty of it suggests to us
766
00:41:18,264 --> 00:41:20,639
the whole sort
of mystery of the cosmos,
767
00:41:20,683 --> 00:41:23,684
or creation, of time,
768
00:41:23,728 --> 00:41:26,228
of human enterprise,
human ingenuity,
769
00:41:26,314 --> 00:41:28,333
and, really,
engineering as a pursuit
770
00:41:28,357 --> 00:41:30,649
of human beings across time.
771
00:41:33,154 --> 00:41:36,405
It's hard to look
at america's monuments
772
00:41:36,491 --> 00:41:38,699
and not feel a sense of wonder.
773
00:41:38,743 --> 00:41:41,827
They serve to remind us
that while they may last
774
00:41:41,871 --> 00:41:46,749
for centuries, we only serve
as their temporary caretakers.
775
00:41:46,834 --> 00:41:49,418
And despite their
groundbreaking engineering
776
00:41:49,504 --> 00:41:51,712
and fascinating histories,
777
00:41:51,756 --> 00:41:55,424
there is much about them
that is a mystery.
778
00:41:55,468 --> 00:41:59,887
A mystery that guarantees
that they will remain
779
00:41:59,931 --> 00:42:02,723
unexplained.
780
00:42:02,808 --> 00:42:05,351
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781
00:42:05,401 --> 00:42:09,951
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