Following President George Washington's death in 1799, the General Assembly wanted to build a suitable monument and have his remains interred on the Capitol grounds. On February 22, 1850, in the presence of President Zachary Taylor, former President John Tyler, and many other dignitaries and a crowd of thousands, the cornerstone was laid. Thomas Crawford's design was selected in a competition. The bronze statue was cast in Germany and arrived in Richmond late in 1857.