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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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♪ ♪
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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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Tony perrottet:
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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Shatner:
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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Perrottet:
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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Shatner:
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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Bracewell:
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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Perrottet:
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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Robin borglum-carter:
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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Shatner:
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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Perrottet:
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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Shatner:
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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Borglum-carter:
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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Shatner:
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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Lou del bianco: 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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Shatner:
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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Shatner:
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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Borglum-carter:
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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Shatner:
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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Bracewell:
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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Shatner:
Gutzon borglum once
lamented that
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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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Borglum-carter:
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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Perrottet:
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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Shatner:
Perhaps borglum believed
that by enshrining the nation's
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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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Marshatner:M:
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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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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William seale:
George washington liked
architecture.
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He was very interested
in houses, symbolism.
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And the white house
is an iconic symbol
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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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Shatner:
Starting construction in 1792,
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the president's palace,
as it was then called,
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took eight years to complete,
at the then cost
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of approximately $230,000.
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A relatively modest sum,
even in those days.
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After british troops
set fire to the structure
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during the war of 1812...
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...Numerous renovations
and additions expanded
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00:11:16,968 --> 00:11:20,804
the original two-story building
to include colonnades
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connecting the east
and the west wings,
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as well as the north
and south porticos.
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According to the official tour,
the white house
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00:11:30,190 --> 00:11:35,193
as we know it today contains
a staggering 132 rooms...
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00:11:36,279 --> 00:11:39,447
...Including 16 family
and guest rooms
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00:11:39,491 --> 00:11:41,700
and 35 bathrooms.
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55,000 square feet in all,
located on 18 acres
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00:11:47,666 --> 00:11:52,627
in the heart of one of the
busiest cities in the world.
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Presidents years ago
would entertain everyday people
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00:11:56,425 --> 00:11:57,924
who could just walk
to the white house,
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00:11:57,968 --> 00:12:00,385
get in and talk
to the president.
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00:12:00,429 --> 00:12:02,137
The white house
used to be thought of
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as the people's house.
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There are very few areas
in the white house
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that the president
can be truly private.
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Presidents are living
a very abnormal existence.
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So you wonder how they get
some sense of normalcy,
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which you don't get
in the white house.
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Shatner:
For more than two centuries,
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the white house has served
as the primary residence
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00:12:23,952 --> 00:12:26,786
of every president
of the united states.
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But 1600 pennsylvania avenue
is more than simply the home
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00:12:32,043 --> 00:12:34,294
of the president
and first family.
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It is also the headquarters
of the executive branch itself.
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Which have led many to ask:
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Is there more
about the white house
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00:12:45,098 --> 00:12:49,642
that we don't know, hiding
behind its austere facade?
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00:12:49,686 --> 00:12:54,189
Experts have long suspected
that top secret tunnels exist
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00:12:54,232 --> 00:12:57,525
beneath the white house,
enabling the president to travel
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00:12:57,569 --> 00:13:00,612
throughout the city
entirely unseen.
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00:13:02,657 --> 00:13:05,825
I was very surprised
to learn the quick routes
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00:13:05,869 --> 00:13:08,745
that needed to be taken
in case of an emergency.
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00:13:09,831 --> 00:13:12,582
And not something
that I can discuss,
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00:13:12,667 --> 00:13:14,542
but there are ways
that the president can be moved
242
00:13:14,586 --> 00:13:16,544
from point a
to point b very quickly
243
00:13:16,588 --> 00:13:18,171
in an emergency situation.
244
00:13:18,215 --> 00:13:20,673
Shatner:
According to historians,
245
00:13:20,717 --> 00:13:23,218
many of the rumors
surrounding such tunnels
246
00:13:23,303 --> 00:13:25,720
and other classified
security features
247
00:13:25,764 --> 00:13:29,015
originated during president
harry truman's administration
248
00:13:29,059 --> 00:13:30,975
in the 1940s,
249
00:13:31,019 --> 00:13:34,395
after numerous structural
issues were discovered
250
00:13:34,481 --> 00:13:36,689
throughout the residence.
251
00:13:36,733 --> 00:13:40,777
Whitcomb:
The white house had nicknames
like a "public shabby house."
252
00:13:40,862 --> 00:13:43,738
there was lots of derogatory
terms about it over the years
253
00:13:43,782 --> 00:13:46,574
because it would fall
in and out of disrepair
254
00:13:46,618 --> 00:13:50,161
depending on how popular
the president was with congress.
255
00:13:51,790 --> 00:13:53,206
Seale:
And so,
256
00:13:53,250 --> 00:13:56,876
the white house, by the time
president truman was there,
257
00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:59,712
was like a hamburger
someone had sat on.
258
00:13:59,756 --> 00:14:02,423
All the levels
were just squashed.
259
00:14:02,467 --> 00:14:05,260
And the corps of engineers
had been yelling about this
260
00:14:05,303 --> 00:14:06,594
for a long time.
261
00:14:06,638 --> 00:14:10,557
Shatner:
Between 1949 and 1952,
262
00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:13,768
a drastic renovation
was authorized by congress.
263
00:14:13,812 --> 00:14:16,938
Engineers replaced
the wooden subframe
264
00:14:16,982 --> 00:14:19,732
with state-of-the-art
steel beams
265
00:14:19,776 --> 00:14:23,403
and rebuilt the inside from
scratch using modern materials,
266
00:14:23,446 --> 00:14:28,616
leaving only the iconic
sandstone exterior intact.
267
00:14:28,660 --> 00:14:32,245
The white house is a facility
that's-- we call it hardened.
268
00:14:32,289 --> 00:14:35,123
A facility that's actually
built to withstand
269
00:14:35,166 --> 00:14:37,458
someone shooting a rifle,
270
00:14:37,502 --> 00:14:39,627
someone bringing
any kind of explosive,
271
00:14:39,671 --> 00:14:43,464
or any kind of threat
to the building.
272
00:14:43,508 --> 00:14:46,134
You want to be able to protect
the people inside the building.
273
00:14:46,177 --> 00:14:49,345
Shatner:
As a result,
some historians have questioned:
274
00:14:49,431 --> 00:14:53,141
Should the modern white house
be considered a residence
275
00:14:53,184 --> 00:14:55,101
or a fortress?
276
00:14:56,354 --> 00:14:59,814
Ron kessler: The white house
grounds are protected
277
00:14:59,858 --> 00:15:04,444
by a complete array of sensors
that detect heat, motion.
278
00:15:04,487 --> 00:15:08,448
If anything is detected, the
secret service comes running.
279
00:15:08,491 --> 00:15:10,617
Brad patterson: It was realized
you really needed
280
00:15:10,660 --> 00:15:13,703
some kind of a military facility
there in the white house.
281
00:15:13,788 --> 00:15:16,831
And so the situation room
was established
282
00:15:16,875 --> 00:15:18,958
in the west wing
of the white house.
283
00:15:19,002 --> 00:15:21,294
It has an international
top secret,
284
00:15:21,338 --> 00:15:23,671
secure teleconference system
285
00:15:23,715 --> 00:15:28,718
so the president can engage
in face-to-face conversations
286
00:15:28,803 --> 00:15:31,012
with other leaders of the world.
287
00:15:31,056 --> 00:15:33,723
There's the famous picture
in the situation room
288
00:15:33,808 --> 00:15:36,476
of president obama
and secretary clinton
289
00:15:36,519 --> 00:15:41,314
and the staff during the mission
that went after osama bin laden.
290
00:15:41,358 --> 00:15:44,525
The capability certainly exists,
within the situation room,
291
00:15:44,569 --> 00:15:46,694
to watch live broadcasts.
292
00:15:49,532 --> 00:15:51,532
Shatner:
As a matter
of national security,
293
00:15:51,576 --> 00:15:54,202
the members of the white house
staff are under strict orders
294
00:15:54,245 --> 00:15:56,829
not to reveal the full extent
295
00:15:56,873 --> 00:15:59,248
of the building's
defense infrastructure.
296
00:16:00,335 --> 00:16:02,418
However,
it has been acknowledged
297
00:16:02,504 --> 00:16:04,587
that in addition
to the situation room,
298
00:16:04,673 --> 00:16:06,923
the white house also contains
a bunker-like structure
299
00:16:07,008 --> 00:16:08,716
beneath the east wing
300
00:16:08,802 --> 00:16:12,261
known as the presidential
emergency operations center,
301
00:16:12,347 --> 00:16:14,555
or peoc,
302
00:16:14,599 --> 00:16:18,017
to protect the president
in case of direct attack.
303
00:16:18,061 --> 00:16:21,562
But could the white house's
military capabilities
304
00:16:21,606 --> 00:16:24,691
go even further than that?
305
00:16:24,734 --> 00:16:27,735
Let's just say that, yes,
the white house is capable
306
00:16:27,779 --> 00:16:30,071
of thwarting an attack.
307
00:16:30,115 --> 00:16:33,199
For instance,
if you remember frank corder,
308
00:16:33,243 --> 00:16:36,411
the individual who flew
the airplane onto the south lawn
309
00:16:36,454 --> 00:16:39,247
and that crashed
into the white house itself.
310
00:16:39,290 --> 00:16:42,750
Shatner:
On September 12, 1994,
311
00:16:42,836 --> 00:16:45,420
frank eugene corder,
a 38-year-old army veteran
312
00:16:45,463 --> 00:16:47,588
suffering from depression,
313
00:16:47,632 --> 00:16:51,426
flew a small airplane
directly at the white house
314
00:16:51,511 --> 00:16:54,429
in what is believed to have been
an assassination attempt
315
00:16:54,472 --> 00:16:56,597
on president bill clinton.
316
00:16:58,101 --> 00:16:59,976
Although the official record
states
317
00:17:00,061 --> 00:17:03,229
that corder's plane crashed
before it reached its target,
318
00:17:03,273 --> 00:17:08,568
many believe it was,
in fact, shot down.
319
00:17:08,611 --> 00:17:09,944
Basham:
People just assumed
320
00:17:09,988 --> 00:17:11,904
that the white house had
321
00:17:11,948 --> 00:17:14,949
all of those defense mechanisms
in place,
322
00:17:14,993 --> 00:17:18,119
and when this cessna
flew into the white house,
323
00:17:18,163 --> 00:17:21,080
and fortunately
they prevented any penetration
324
00:17:21,124 --> 00:17:24,125
into the interior
of the white house itself.
325
00:17:24,169 --> 00:17:29,589
So, I think that demonstrates
that-that, that it does exist.
326
00:17:29,632 --> 00:17:32,800
Shatner:
Is the white house
a full-fledged battle station,
327
00:17:32,844 --> 00:17:35,178
protected by
antiaircraft missiles
328
00:17:35,263 --> 00:17:37,472
and other covert armaments?
329
00:17:37,515 --> 00:17:40,683
And if so, what about
the other prominent structures
330
00:17:40,769 --> 00:17:44,270
located in our nation's capital?
331
00:17:44,314 --> 00:17:49,317
May they also be hiding secrets
in plain sight?
332
00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:52,153
There are many who believe
that the answer lies
333
00:17:52,197 --> 00:17:55,114
just a few yards away
within the very heart
334
00:17:55,158 --> 00:17:56,991
of the capitol dome.
335
00:18:08,129 --> 00:18:10,922
Akram elias:
Gstands what is perhapsd
the single greatest monument
336
00:18:10,965 --> 00:18:12,965
to democracy in the world,
337
00:18:13,009 --> 00:18:16,260
the united states
capitol building.
338
00:18:17,430 --> 00:18:19,305
The iconic dome at the center
is flanked
339
00:18:19,349 --> 00:18:21,641
by two nearly identical wings.
340
00:18:21,684 --> 00:18:23,935
The north,
which houses the senate,
341
00:18:23,978 --> 00:18:27,605
and the south, which houses
the house of representatives.
342
00:18:27,649 --> 00:18:30,733
The vast sandstone-clad
structure contains
343
00:18:30,777 --> 00:18:36,572
some 600 rooms and covers
approximately four acres.
344
00:18:36,616 --> 00:18:39,075
It's designed to radiate power.
345
00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,494
And as one stands here,
one can feel themselves
346
00:18:41,538 --> 00:18:43,538
just being
lifted up by its presence.
347
00:18:43,581 --> 00:18:46,499
And it was designed
to be that way.
348
00:18:46,543 --> 00:18:48,501
Shatner:
As with the white house,
349
00:18:48,545 --> 00:18:52,672
the cornerstone ceremony was
presided over by freemasons.
350
00:18:52,715 --> 00:18:57,009
At 10:00 a.M.
On September 18, 1793,
351
00:18:57,053 --> 00:19:00,638
crowds gathered to watch
george washington
352
00:19:00,682 --> 00:19:03,850
carefully anoint
a massive stone block
353
00:19:03,893 --> 00:19:06,561
with corn, oil and wine.
354
00:19:06,604 --> 00:19:09,355
He then struck it three times
with a gavel
355
00:19:09,399 --> 00:19:11,732
to announce the
laying of the cornerstone...
356
00:19:13,736 --> 00:19:15,611
...For the building
intended to become
357
00:19:15,655 --> 00:19:19,365
the heart
of america's new democracy.
358
00:19:19,409 --> 00:19:23,369
When freemasons
conduct such a ceremony,
359
00:19:23,413 --> 00:19:25,538
they're basically
sending a message
360
00:19:25,582 --> 00:19:29,250
to the people who are going
to work out of that edifice
361
00:19:29,294 --> 00:19:34,255
that their main mission
is not to rule over people.
362
00:19:34,299 --> 00:19:36,966
George washington wanted
to send that powerful message,
363
00:19:37,010 --> 00:19:41,846
"this is the symbol
of this new american republic."
364
00:19:43,558 --> 00:19:46,684
shatner:
Seven years after construction
on the capitol began,
365
00:19:46,728 --> 00:19:49,729
the united states congress
held its first session
366
00:19:49,772 --> 00:19:52,190
on November 17, 1800.
367
00:19:53,234 --> 00:19:54,609
As the number of states
368
00:19:54,652 --> 00:19:57,904
admitted to the nation
grew over the next 50 years,
369
00:19:57,947 --> 00:19:59,655
the design
of the original buildings
370
00:19:59,699 --> 00:20:02,533
continued to expand
in order to accommodate
371
00:20:02,577 --> 00:20:05,995
the increasing number
of legislators in congress.
372
00:20:06,039 --> 00:20:08,623
But there is one fact
about the capitol dome
373
00:20:08,666 --> 00:20:10,625
that is less well-known,
374
00:20:10,668 --> 00:20:13,836
and it's not about what lies
on top of the building
375
00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,756
but what lies deep below.
376
00:20:16,799 --> 00:20:18,633
Henry:
Beneath that is what's called
377
00:20:18,676 --> 00:20:20,259
the crypt.
378
00:20:20,303 --> 00:20:22,553
This is fascinating
because civic buildings
379
00:20:22,597 --> 00:20:23,971
are not supposed to have crypts.
380
00:20:24,015 --> 00:20:27,600
Churches have crypts.
Cemeteries have crypts.
381
00:20:27,644 --> 00:20:30,436
But the u.S. Capitol
has a crypt. Why?
382
00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,397
Shatner:
A crypt?
383
00:20:33,441 --> 00:20:35,066
According to historians,
the crypt
384
00:20:35,109 --> 00:20:37,193
below the capitol dome's rotunda
was intended
385
00:20:37,237 --> 00:20:40,363
to be the burial place
for george washington,
386
00:20:40,406 --> 00:20:43,950
similar to the burial places
of english kings
387
00:20:43,993 --> 00:20:46,661
beneath the floors
of the british cathedrals.
388
00:20:46,704 --> 00:20:49,622
However, by the time
the construction
389
00:20:49,666 --> 00:20:52,625
of the crypt was completed
in 1827,
390
00:20:52,669 --> 00:20:56,128
washington, who strongly
rejected any notion
391
00:20:56,172 --> 00:20:58,172
that he should be regarded
as a king,
392
00:20:58,216 --> 00:21:02,426
had already been buried
at his home in mount vernon.
393
00:21:02,470 --> 00:21:05,680
Washington's family,
out of respect for his wishes,
394
00:21:05,723 --> 00:21:08,766
now refused to move his body
to washington.
395
00:21:08,810 --> 00:21:12,228
But even though the crypt
beneath the capitol is empty,
396
00:21:12,272 --> 00:21:15,856
george washington's presence
can still be felt
397
00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:18,484
all over the capitol.
398
00:21:18,528 --> 00:21:21,112
Elias:
One of the most fascinating
parts of the capitol
399
00:21:21,155 --> 00:21:22,863
is the rotunda,
which is at the heart;
400
00:21:22,907 --> 00:21:24,198
it's a circle.
401
00:21:24,242 --> 00:21:28,536
And if you look above,
you see a beautiful painting
402
00:21:28,579 --> 00:21:31,831
of the apotheosis
of george washington.
403
00:21:31,874 --> 00:21:35,167
It's an enormous painting
that depicts washington
404
00:21:35,211 --> 00:21:38,170
as you would see a god depicted.
405
00:21:38,214 --> 00:21:41,590
He sits in a setting of clouds
406
00:21:41,634 --> 00:21:46,304
with what look like angels
immediately surrounding him.
407
00:21:46,347 --> 00:21:48,306
The apotheosis
of george washington
408
00:21:48,349 --> 00:21:52,059
was completed
by constantino brumidi in 1865.
409
00:21:52,103 --> 00:21:54,145
The word "apotheosis"
is a greek word
410
00:21:54,188 --> 00:21:56,897
that means to deify;
to raise from a man
411
00:21:56,941 --> 00:22:00,860
to a god-man,
or to achieve glory.
412
00:22:00,903 --> 00:22:04,530
And when one achieves glory,
one glows rays,
413
00:22:04,574 --> 00:22:06,365
just like the gods.
414
00:22:06,409 --> 00:22:09,285
Who's buried
in washington's tomb?
415
00:22:09,329 --> 00:22:10,870
Nobody.
416
00:22:10,913 --> 00:22:13,039
Because he's up on the ceiling.
417
00:22:13,082 --> 00:22:15,499
He's raised himself
from the tomb,
418
00:22:15,543 --> 00:22:19,086
gone up through the rotunda
and up through the sun gate
419
00:22:19,130 --> 00:22:21,088
that leads to heaven.
420
00:22:21,132 --> 00:22:23,257
He is a deity.
421
00:22:25,511 --> 00:22:28,804
Shatner: Could the apotheosis
of washington be a clue
422
00:22:28,848 --> 00:22:31,724
that america's founding fathers
actually intended
423
00:22:31,768 --> 00:22:35,978
the united states be built upon
not only the laws of man
424
00:22:36,022 --> 00:22:41,442
but also divine forces
beyond our understanding?
425
00:22:41,486 --> 00:22:43,235
Perhaps.
426
00:22:43,279 --> 00:22:46,947
But the story of the capitol
building becomes even stranger
427
00:22:46,991 --> 00:22:51,702
when you consider what stands
atop the iconic dome.
428
00:22:51,746 --> 00:22:53,621
The freedom statue
on top of the capitol
429
00:22:53,664 --> 00:22:58,292
is a 19 1/2-foot-tall statue
of an iroquois goddess
430
00:22:58,336 --> 00:23:01,295
who actually is morphing
into an eagle.
431
00:23:02,715 --> 00:23:05,674
This is very important
because the ancient gods
432
00:23:05,718 --> 00:23:07,593
were portrayed as eagle-headed.
433
00:23:07,637 --> 00:23:10,346
Nimrod was taken into
the heavens by eagles.
434
00:23:10,390 --> 00:23:12,306
So was zeus.
435
00:23:12,350 --> 00:23:17,353
And also with the legends of
the iroquois native americans.
436
00:23:19,023 --> 00:23:25,403
The iroquois creation story
of sky woman, uh, is basically:
437
00:23:25,446 --> 00:23:29,573
Before earth really became
what it is today,
438
00:23:29,617 --> 00:23:32,576
there were beings
that were similar to us
439
00:23:32,620 --> 00:23:34,537
living in the sky.
440
00:23:34,580 --> 00:23:38,374
One day, a young woman,
sky woman, became pregnant.
441
00:23:38,418 --> 00:23:42,503
She is to go down
to the world below.
442
00:23:42,547 --> 00:23:47,508
And so this extraterrestrial
that lived in the sky--
443
00:23:47,552 --> 00:23:51,762
she comes down
and then the human race begins.
444
00:23:54,308 --> 00:23:57,309
Shatner:
An extraterrestrial
that came down to earth
445
00:23:57,353 --> 00:24:00,729
from the sky?
446
00:24:00,773 --> 00:24:04,066
But if so, how did this figure
from iroquois mythology
447
00:24:04,110 --> 00:24:07,445
come to be standing atop
america's capitol building?
448
00:24:09,115 --> 00:24:12,241
At the debate on the
declaration of independence,
449
00:24:12,285 --> 00:24:15,995
the iroquois chiefs
were specifically invited.
450
00:24:16,038 --> 00:24:20,875
And over 40 of them came
to philadelphia
451
00:24:20,918 --> 00:24:23,544
in may of 1776.
452
00:24:23,588 --> 00:24:26,881
And they stayed there
on through the debating
453
00:24:26,924 --> 00:24:30,926
and passage of the
declaration of independence.
454
00:24:30,970 --> 00:24:34,221
Their presence was
so important because
455
00:24:34,265 --> 00:24:37,600
if half your economy is
trading with native americans,
456
00:24:37,643 --> 00:24:40,227
then you have to learn about
how the community,
457
00:24:40,271 --> 00:24:41,437
their government runs,
458
00:24:41,481 --> 00:24:44,773
you have to learn about
the culture.
459
00:24:44,817 --> 00:24:47,151
Benjamin franklin,
in particular,
460
00:24:47,195 --> 00:24:50,529
was deeply interested in
the star legends and star lore
461
00:24:50,573 --> 00:24:52,448
of the iroquois confederacy.
462
00:24:52,492 --> 00:24:55,117
So when we add all this
together, it looks like
463
00:24:55,161 --> 00:24:57,036
the freedom statue is
being referenced here
464
00:24:57,079 --> 00:24:58,621
as a star being.
465
00:24:59,999 --> 00:25:02,917
Shatner:
An empty crypt
beneath the rotunda.
466
00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:06,837
George washington portrayed
as a god.
467
00:25:06,881 --> 00:25:10,633
And a statue of an iroquois
star goddess.
468
00:25:10,676 --> 00:25:13,719
Might the united states
capitol building reveal that
469
00:25:13,763 --> 00:25:15,554
america's most important
monuments serve
470
00:25:15,598 --> 00:25:18,474
not just
an architectural purpose
471
00:25:18,518 --> 00:25:21,310
but also a spiritual one?
472
00:25:21,354 --> 00:25:25,731
Many believe the answer is yes,
and suggest that for the proof,
473
00:25:25,775 --> 00:25:30,277
we need only look to one of our
most iconic national monuments:
474
00:25:30,321 --> 00:25:36,116
A giant stone obelisk
whose history is as fascinating
475
00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:38,869
as the u.S. President
for whom it was named.
476
00:25:49,173 --> 00:25:51,131
Shatner:
Iafter an extensivee
three-year renovation,
477
00:25:51,175 --> 00:25:53,842
including significant
security enhancements
478
00:25:53,886 --> 00:25:57,346
to make it nearly invulnerable
to terrorist attacks,
479
00:25:57,390 --> 00:26:00,558
the washington monument,
a towering memorial
480
00:26:00,601 --> 00:26:02,768
dedicated to america's
first president,
481
00:26:02,812 --> 00:26:06,355
finally reopens
to an eager public.
482
00:26:06,399 --> 00:26:10,067
The washington monument is
such an important place
483
00:26:10,111 --> 00:26:13,696
in the american narrative
because of what it represents.
484
00:26:15,074 --> 00:26:18,200
It represents
george washington himself
485
00:26:18,244 --> 00:26:22,705
and his important position
in the building of our nation.
486
00:26:22,748 --> 00:26:25,457
It is a ray of light
descending from the heavens,
487
00:26:25,501 --> 00:26:26,792
or inspiration itself,
488
00:26:26,836 --> 00:26:29,169
just as he was that
to the young nation.
489
00:26:31,465 --> 00:26:33,424
Shatner:
First unveiled in 1884,
490
00:26:33,467 --> 00:26:36,885
and standing 555 feet tall,
491
00:26:36,929 --> 00:26:38,929
the washington monument
is not only
492
00:26:38,973 --> 00:26:41,181
the tallest structure
in washington, d.C.,
493
00:26:41,225 --> 00:26:45,561
but the tallest stone structure
in the world.
494
00:26:45,605 --> 00:26:48,063
It is a feat made
even more incredible
495
00:26:48,107 --> 00:26:52,151
by the fact that
the 36,491 blocks
496
00:26:52,194 --> 00:26:54,570
of marbled granite
and bluestone gneiss
497
00:26:54,614 --> 00:26:56,697
that comprise
the washington monument
498
00:26:56,741 --> 00:26:59,825
are only held together
by gravity and friction,
499
00:26:59,869 --> 00:27:03,329
without any mortar whatsoever.
500
00:27:03,372 --> 00:27:05,664
Most people look
at the washington monument
501
00:27:05,708 --> 00:27:08,584
and they see a huge obelisk,
502
00:27:08,628 --> 00:27:11,003
but I doubt that
very many people at all
503
00:27:11,047 --> 00:27:14,340
know every stone
in the monument is unique.
504
00:27:14,383 --> 00:27:16,800
Every stone has its own story,
505
00:27:16,844 --> 00:27:18,927
and they all have secrets.
506
00:27:20,139 --> 00:27:23,098
Shatner:
Secrets? In the stones?
507
00:27:23,142 --> 00:27:25,934
Most who visit
the washington monument
508
00:27:25,978 --> 00:27:28,604
immediately notice
a slight variation
509
00:27:28,648 --> 00:27:30,731
in the color of
the stone facade,
510
00:27:30,775 --> 00:27:34,193
indicating the towering spire
likely underwent
511
00:27:34,236 --> 00:27:37,446
a troubled period
during its construction.
512
00:27:37,490 --> 00:27:41,533
The monument's origins
date back to 1833,
513
00:27:41,577 --> 00:27:43,535
when a group of citizens called
514
00:27:43,579 --> 00:27:46,413
the washington national
monument society
515
00:27:46,457 --> 00:27:48,123
took charge of the project
516
00:27:48,167 --> 00:27:52,211
and selected a design
by architect robert mills.
517
00:27:52,254 --> 00:27:55,756
Berger:
Robert mills' original design
for a washington monument
518
00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,842
was that of a 600-foot shaft,
519
00:27:58,886 --> 00:28:02,137
a obelisk with a much
flatter pyramidion
520
00:28:02,181 --> 00:28:04,390
than that which now bedecks
the washington monument
521
00:28:04,433 --> 00:28:06,392
we all know.
522
00:28:06,435 --> 00:28:08,352
And it would have
a colonnade surrounding
523
00:28:08,396 --> 00:28:12,064
the washington monument's
central shaft of statuary
524
00:28:12,108 --> 00:28:15,442
of the founding fathers
that supported george washington
525
00:28:15,486 --> 00:28:17,486
in the building of the nation.
526
00:28:17,530 --> 00:28:20,447
Shatner:
On July 4, 1848,
527
00:28:20,491 --> 00:28:22,491
thousands of people
gathered on the hillside
528
00:28:22,535 --> 00:28:24,993
just south of the white house
to commemorate
529
00:28:25,037 --> 00:28:27,871
the long-awaited start
of construction
530
00:28:27,915 --> 00:28:29,748
on the washington monument.
531
00:28:29,792 --> 00:28:32,793
What they witnessed wasn't
merely the laying
532
00:28:32,837 --> 00:28:35,003
of the ceremonial cornerstone
533
00:28:35,047 --> 00:28:38,674
but an elaborate
freemason ritual.
534
00:28:38,718 --> 00:28:41,218
Berger:
The freemasons were
very instrumental
535
00:28:41,262 --> 00:28:42,553
in the building
of the washington monument
536
00:28:42,596 --> 00:28:44,304
because, of course,
the subject matter
537
00:28:44,348 --> 00:28:46,849
that the monument honors--
george washington himself--
538
00:28:46,892 --> 00:28:50,269
being a very prominent
freemason.
539
00:28:50,312 --> 00:28:54,606
They wore
george washington's sash.
540
00:28:54,650 --> 00:28:57,401
They wore his apron.
541
00:28:57,445 --> 00:29:00,571
-And they had his gavel.
-(gavel bangs)
542
00:29:00,614 --> 00:29:05,701
you were identifying with
the father of our country.
543
00:29:05,745 --> 00:29:07,119
And then, of course,
a few years later,
544
00:29:07,163 --> 00:29:09,288
the civil war intervened,
and that led to
545
00:29:09,331 --> 00:29:11,582
enormous delays in
constructing the monument.
546
00:29:11,625 --> 00:29:13,917
After a lot of delay,
547
00:29:13,961 --> 00:29:16,003
the construction
of the washington monument
548
00:29:16,046 --> 00:29:17,838
is jump-started again.
549
00:29:18,966 --> 00:29:20,591
Shatner:
When construction resumes,
550
00:29:20,634 --> 00:29:22,342
the stones used to
complete the monument
551
00:29:22,386 --> 00:29:24,094
came from a different quarry.
552
00:29:24,138 --> 00:29:26,889
This explains why
there is a visible difference
553
00:29:26,932 --> 00:29:29,224
in the color
of the stones today.
554
00:29:29,268 --> 00:29:32,561
Also different is
the final design.
555
00:29:32,605 --> 00:29:35,481
Mills's grandiose vision
for the washington monument
556
00:29:35,524 --> 00:29:37,274
was replaced by a simpler
557
00:29:37,318 --> 00:29:40,235
and perhaps
even more striking design--
558
00:29:40,279 --> 00:29:44,114
a single, towering obelisk.
559
00:29:44,158 --> 00:29:46,658
But what could have inspired
the use of a symbol
560
00:29:46,702 --> 00:29:51,330
from ancient egypt to honor
the most venerated
561
00:29:51,373 --> 00:29:53,874
of american presidents?
562
00:29:53,918 --> 00:29:57,503
Elias:
It is no coincidence
that obelisks are used
563
00:29:57,546 --> 00:30:00,297
as symbols in the rituals
of freemasonry.
564
00:30:00,341 --> 00:30:02,591
The egyptians were
great builders.
565
00:30:02,635 --> 00:30:04,676
And here, we're not talking
anymore only about
566
00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:06,345
building structures,
physical structures.
567
00:30:06,388 --> 00:30:09,223
We're talking about
creating, also, a link
568
00:30:09,266 --> 00:30:11,975
between the physical earth,
where we live,
569
00:30:12,019 --> 00:30:15,437
and what is happening
in the universe around us.
570
00:30:15,481 --> 00:30:19,650
The language of freemasonry
is a language of symbols.
571
00:30:19,693 --> 00:30:21,443
And there is
a fundamental reason for that.
572
00:30:21,487 --> 00:30:26,156
By using a language of symbols,
you can talk about ideas
573
00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:30,661
that free the mind
with some form of safety.
574
00:30:30,704 --> 00:30:33,872
Hieronimus:
There are important symbols
575
00:30:33,916 --> 00:30:36,583
within the washington monument.
576
00:30:36,627 --> 00:30:38,794
When you get in the elevator
and you go up,
577
00:30:38,838 --> 00:30:41,713
above one of the elevator doors
578
00:30:41,757 --> 00:30:46,677
is a winged disc
with a six-pointed star
579
00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:49,513
in that disc.
580
00:30:49,557 --> 00:30:53,517
That winged disc goes back
to egyptian mythologies
581
00:30:53,561 --> 00:30:57,980
and indicated elevation
of consciousness.
582
00:30:58,023 --> 00:31:00,357
We're getting in this elevator,
moving into
583
00:31:00,401 --> 00:31:03,443
the higher spiritual dimensions,
584
00:31:03,487 --> 00:31:06,029
with the six-pointed star
in the middle!
585
00:31:07,908 --> 00:31:11,326
Berger:
The aluminum tip on top
of the washington monument
586
00:31:11,370 --> 00:31:14,538
was placed there
December 6, 1884
587
00:31:14,582 --> 00:31:17,583
upon the completion of this
structure as a crowning act.
588
00:31:17,626 --> 00:31:20,460
Engraved upon it, two words:
589
00:31:20,504 --> 00:31:23,547
"laus deo,"
or "praise be to god,"
590
00:31:23,591 --> 00:31:25,215
facing to the east.
591
00:31:25,259 --> 00:31:27,759
And as those two words
face to the east,
592
00:31:27,803 --> 00:31:31,889
the sun rises but never sets
upon those words.
593
00:31:33,893 --> 00:31:35,767
Is the washington monument
594
00:31:35,811 --> 00:31:38,896
a glorious memorial
to a great man?
595
00:31:38,939 --> 00:31:42,900
Or is it also a tribute
to the role freemasonry played
596
00:31:42,943 --> 00:31:46,278
in the founding
of the united states?
597
00:31:46,322 --> 00:31:49,781
There are many who believe
that both things are true,
598
00:31:49,825 --> 00:31:51,783
and that the mystery
of america's obsession
599
00:31:51,827 --> 00:31:53,869
with tall buildings
can best be answered
600
00:31:53,913 --> 00:31:56,079
by examining the story
of a building
601
00:31:56,123 --> 00:31:58,665
that, while no longer
the world's tallest,
602
00:31:58,709 --> 00:32:01,668
is still one of its most famous,
603
00:32:01,712 --> 00:32:04,880
the empire state building.
604
00:32:13,057 --> 00:32:14,848
Shatner:
After four years
the eof construction,d
605
00:32:14,934 --> 00:32:16,808
the empire state building's
remodeled
606
00:32:16,852 --> 00:32:21,647
102nd floor observatory is
finally revealed to the public.
607
00:32:21,690 --> 00:32:25,651
Costing a staggering
$165 million,
608
00:32:25,694 --> 00:32:29,821
the renovation also includes
a 10,000-square-foot museum
609
00:32:29,865 --> 00:32:32,532
and an all-new observation deck,
610
00:32:32,576 --> 00:32:37,120
offering visitors a 360-degree
view from atop the building,
611
00:32:37,164 --> 00:32:41,917
one that has often been called
the eighth wonder of the world.
612
00:32:42,962 --> 00:32:44,711
The empire state building,
613
00:32:44,755 --> 00:32:48,048
almost more than any other
building, represents new york.
614
00:32:48,092 --> 00:32:51,927
Great look, a great presence.
615
00:32:52,012 --> 00:32:53,845
It's called the "it factor."
616
00:32:53,889 --> 00:32:56,890
people have it,
buildings have it,
617
00:32:56,934 --> 00:32:59,393
and the empire state building
has the it factor.
618
00:32:59,436 --> 00:33:05,816
Shatner:
Designated a national
historic landmark in 1986,
619
00:33:05,859 --> 00:33:08,151
many consider the empire state
building to be not only
620
00:33:08,195 --> 00:33:10,904
the most recognizable
building in new york city
621
00:33:10,948 --> 00:33:13,532
but also the entire world.
622
00:33:13,575 --> 00:33:17,661
Over 20,000 people arrive
to work here every day,
623
00:33:17,705 --> 00:33:20,664
taking one of the 73 elevators
to offices
624
00:33:20,708 --> 00:33:24,292
located across 103 floors,
625
00:33:24,378 --> 00:33:29,089
nearly 2.7 million square feet
of office space in all.
626
00:33:29,133 --> 00:33:33,051
In fact, the 1,454-foot
building is so large,
627
00:33:33,095 --> 00:33:36,596
it was even given
its own zip code.
628
00:33:38,434 --> 00:33:40,475
Originally designed
to be a symbol
629
00:33:40,561 --> 00:33:44,229
of america's indomitable
spirit and ingenuity,
630
00:33:44,273 --> 00:33:46,565
until 1972
the empire state building
631
00:33:46,608 --> 00:33:51,945
enjoyed its unique status
as the world's tallest building.
632
00:33:52,031 --> 00:33:55,323
The empire state building was
scheduled to be a thousand feet.
633
00:33:55,409 --> 00:33:58,326
The chrysler building was 1,046.
634
00:33:58,412 --> 00:34:00,120
So they determined
that they would ensure
635
00:34:00,205 --> 00:34:03,457
that they would be
the world's tallest building
636
00:34:03,500 --> 00:34:08,920
by adding a 200-foot-high mast
atop the building.
637
00:34:08,964 --> 00:34:12,799
You could almost call it
the race of the titans.
638
00:34:12,843 --> 00:34:17,095
The idea for the world's tallest
tower always gains attention.
639
00:34:17,139 --> 00:34:20,182
And there is a certain kind
of status that's given
640
00:34:20,267 --> 00:34:22,976
to any building
that's going to break a record,
641
00:34:23,062 --> 00:34:25,062
because it certainly
is a signal achievement.
642
00:34:26,106 --> 00:34:27,606
Shatner:
As anticipated,
643
00:34:27,649 --> 00:34:29,441
when the empire state building
finally opened
644
00:34:29,485 --> 00:34:33,820
on may 1, 1931,
its coveted status
645
00:34:33,906 --> 00:34:35,697
as the tallest building
in the world
646
00:34:35,783 --> 00:34:38,617
brought it international renown.
647
00:34:38,660 --> 00:34:42,287
But why construct
a building to tower
648
00:34:42,331 --> 00:34:44,831
more than a thousand feet
above the earth?
649
00:34:44,917 --> 00:34:47,501
If monuments
like the capitol building
650
00:34:47,544 --> 00:34:50,045
and the washington monument
are meant to symbolize
651
00:34:50,130 --> 00:34:52,923
a connection to something
greater than ourselves,
652
00:34:52,966 --> 00:34:55,675
could the empire state building
be an attempt
653
00:34:55,761 --> 00:35:00,722
to literally ascend from
the earth and touch the heavens?
654
00:35:02,351 --> 00:35:03,892
Willis:
The thrill of being at the top
655
00:35:03,977 --> 00:35:05,519
of the empire state building
656
00:35:05,562 --> 00:35:08,855
is, is really to-to be
above it all.
657
00:35:08,899 --> 00:35:10,649
To look out to the harbor
658
00:35:10,692 --> 00:35:16,154
and have the, the thrill
of nearly infinite vision.
659
00:35:16,198 --> 00:35:18,698
There are many
historical paradigms
660
00:35:18,742 --> 00:35:21,952
to summarize the achievements
through the ages.
661
00:35:21,995 --> 00:35:24,913
For the romans
it might be the pantheon,
662
00:35:24,998 --> 00:35:28,041
for the greeks
it might be the parthenon,
663
00:35:28,085 --> 00:35:31,169
but the empire state building
summarizes the idea
664
00:35:31,213 --> 00:35:36,508
about what america wanted
to be in the 20th century.
665
00:35:36,552 --> 00:35:38,885
Shatner:
According to historians,
666
00:35:38,929 --> 00:35:41,847
the romantic notion
of being above it all
667
00:35:41,890 --> 00:35:43,890
was taken to the extreme
668
00:35:43,976 --> 00:35:47,060
when the empire state building
first opened.
669
00:35:48,147 --> 00:35:49,604
Willis:
The stock market was going up,
670
00:35:49,690 --> 00:35:52,607
real estate investment
was rampant.
671
00:35:52,693 --> 00:35:55,569
They needed to have some
extra measure of modernity
672
00:35:55,612 --> 00:36:00,407
that signaled that this building
not just stood above the rest
673
00:36:00,450 --> 00:36:03,743
but participated
in this upper stratum
674
00:36:03,787 --> 00:36:05,745
of the-the world of business.
675
00:36:05,789 --> 00:36:09,374
So they imagined that they would
add a docking station
676
00:36:09,418 --> 00:36:13,003
for dirigibles,
for the zeppelins.
677
00:36:14,965 --> 00:36:17,299
Shatner:
A dirigible docking station?
678
00:36:17,384 --> 00:36:20,427
Is it possible
that the empire state building,
679
00:36:20,512 --> 00:36:22,429
hailed as a symbol of america's
680
00:36:22,472 --> 00:36:24,139
can-do attitude
and industrial might,
681
00:36:24,224 --> 00:36:29,019
was actually envisioned to be
the world's tallest airport?
682
00:36:31,064 --> 00:36:34,441
Tauranac:
They said, "we will drag it
into the building,
683
00:36:34,484 --> 00:36:35,984
crank it down."
684
00:36:36,028 --> 00:36:41,406
the dirigible can be moored
to the top of the mooring mast.
685
00:36:41,450 --> 00:36:44,284
A gangplank can be dropped
to the 103rd floor
686
00:36:44,328 --> 00:36:49,247
where there was a platform
that ringed to the building.
687
00:36:49,291 --> 00:36:53,793
And the passengers
can de-dirigible
688
00:36:53,837 --> 00:37:00,300
down the gangplank
1,250 feet in the air.
689
00:37:00,344 --> 00:37:03,887
It was the looniest building
scheme since the tower of babel.
690
00:37:05,057 --> 00:37:06,473
Shatner:
The first test
691
00:37:06,516 --> 00:37:09,267
of the empire state building's
docking station
692
00:37:09,311 --> 00:37:10,936
was a massive failure.
693
00:37:10,979 --> 00:37:14,022
Although workers managed
to pass a mailbag
694
00:37:14,107 --> 00:37:17,234
over from the top of the tower,
the tethered airship was rocked
695
00:37:17,277 --> 00:37:21,780
by high winds
while attempting to dock.
696
00:37:21,823 --> 00:37:25,325
After the hindenburg disaster
in 1937,
697
00:37:25,369 --> 00:37:27,994
the notion
of commercial dirigible travel
698
00:37:28,038 --> 00:37:30,372
was abandoned altogether.
699
00:37:30,457 --> 00:37:33,625
A fate that fortunately
would not befall
700
00:37:33,669 --> 00:37:35,835
another great american monument,
701
00:37:35,879 --> 00:37:38,672
one that thousands of people
travel across every day,
702
00:37:38,715 --> 00:37:41,007
despite the possibility
703
00:37:41,051 --> 00:37:43,385
of catastrophic
structural collapse.
704
00:37:54,356 --> 00:37:58,275
In celebration
of its 50th anniversary,
705
00:37:58,318 --> 00:38:00,193
hundreds of thousands
of people gather
706
00:38:00,279 --> 00:38:04,197
to walk across one
of america's greatest monuments,
707
00:38:04,241 --> 00:38:07,033
the golden gate bridge.
708
00:38:07,119 --> 00:38:10,453
Designed by engineer
leon moisseiff,
709
00:38:10,497 --> 00:38:15,417
the 887,000-ton bridge
measures 1.7 miles across
710
00:38:15,460 --> 00:38:17,502
and is suspended
by two main cables,
711
00:38:17,546 --> 00:38:23,633
each 7,659 feet long
and over three feet in diameter.
712
00:38:23,677 --> 00:38:26,553
And although more than
100,000 vehicles
713
00:38:26,638 --> 00:38:29,556
commute across
the bridge every day,
714
00:38:29,599 --> 00:38:34,227
on this day
it begins to groan and sag
715
00:38:34,271 --> 00:38:39,316
under the load of 300,000 people
on it at once.
716
00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:42,235
There was a weeklong fiesta.
717
00:38:42,321 --> 00:38:46,072
Schools closed, parades, bands.
718
00:38:46,116 --> 00:38:48,283
It was just everyone
in san francisco,
719
00:38:48,327 --> 00:38:50,118
marin county,
and the counties to the north
720
00:38:50,162 --> 00:38:53,246
came to celebrate
the opening of this bridge.
721
00:38:53,290 --> 00:38:55,707
Two crowds, one from the north
and one to the south
722
00:38:55,792 --> 00:38:57,751
came together in the middle
of the bridge
723
00:38:57,836 --> 00:39:00,754
with no place to go and it got
to be a crush loading.
724
00:39:00,797 --> 00:39:02,839
There were so many people
on the bridge
725
00:39:02,883 --> 00:39:04,257
that that vertical curve
of the bridge
726
00:39:04,343 --> 00:39:05,800
was flattened, straight out,
727
00:39:05,844 --> 00:39:08,720
deflected something
on the order of 20 feet.
728
00:39:08,764 --> 00:39:10,513
The bridge
was swarmed with people,
729
00:39:10,557 --> 00:39:13,683
and it was probably the biggest
load the bridge has ever seen.
730
00:39:15,645 --> 00:39:19,189
Shatner:
As sudden winds
cause the bridge to sway,
731
00:39:19,232 --> 00:39:23,109
the pedestrians begin to panic,
fearing the span will collapse.
732
00:39:23,195 --> 00:39:25,320
Their fears
are heightened by the fact
733
00:39:25,364 --> 00:39:28,573
that a similar
leon moisseiff-designed bridge
734
00:39:28,617 --> 00:39:33,244
collapsed in tacoma, washington
nearly 50 years earlier.
735
00:39:33,288 --> 00:39:35,914
Moisseiff's ambition
was to make bridges
736
00:39:35,957 --> 00:39:39,709
higher, longer and lighter.
737
00:39:39,753 --> 00:39:42,253
But in the case
of the tacoma bridge,
738
00:39:42,297 --> 00:39:44,464
he made it too aerodynamic.
739
00:39:44,508 --> 00:39:46,091
(wind blowing)
740
00:39:46,134 --> 00:39:49,719
so the bridge began
to move with the winds,
741
00:39:49,763 --> 00:39:54,224
and it set up a process in which
the, the bridge collapsed.
742
00:40:01,191 --> 00:40:03,316
Shatner:
Fortunately,
the golden gate bridge
743
00:40:03,402 --> 00:40:05,652
did not share the fate
of the tacoma bridge,
744
00:40:05,737 --> 00:40:09,697
and the massive crowd
escaped unscathed,
745
00:40:09,741 --> 00:40:11,783
although authorities
no longer permit
746
00:40:11,827 --> 00:40:14,494
mass gatherings on the bridge.
747
00:40:14,579 --> 00:40:16,663
It was a rather
frightening moment
748
00:40:16,748 --> 00:40:18,331
with what could have been
749
00:40:18,417 --> 00:40:21,418
the greatest
civil engineering disaster
750
00:40:21,461 --> 00:40:24,379
in the history
of the human race.
751
00:40:24,423 --> 00:40:28,007
Fortunately, retrofitting that
had been recently accomplished
752
00:40:28,093 --> 00:40:31,052
enabled the bridge
to go through that difficulty.
753
00:40:32,097 --> 00:40:34,264
Shatner:
But if the tacoma bridge
suffered
754
00:40:34,307 --> 00:40:37,434
a catastrophic collapse,
what made the builders
755
00:40:37,477 --> 00:40:39,102
of the golden gate bridge
think they could build
756
00:40:39,146 --> 00:40:41,521
an even longer
and more ambitious bridge
757
00:40:41,606 --> 00:40:45,525
and yet not suffer
a similar fate?
758
00:40:45,610 --> 00:40:48,486
Particularly when no one
at the time
759
00:40:48,530 --> 00:40:54,868
had ever built a suspension
bridge anywhere near its size?
760
00:40:54,911 --> 00:40:57,454
Moisseiff's key contribution
was the towers.
761
00:40:57,497 --> 00:40:59,873
He took the towers
higher and higher
762
00:40:59,958 --> 00:41:02,417
than previously anybody thought
could be done.
763
00:41:02,461 --> 00:41:05,837
And that allowed the bridge
to spin suspension cables
764
00:41:05,922 --> 00:41:07,922
over a greater distance,
765
00:41:07,966 --> 00:41:10,967
which allowed the golden gate
strait to be spanned.
766
00:41:12,179 --> 00:41:14,512
When we look at the success
of the golden gate bridge,
767
00:41:14,556 --> 00:41:17,223
the beauty of it suggests to us
768
00:41:17,267 --> 00:41:19,642
the whole sort
of mystery of the cosmos,
769
00:41:19,686 --> 00:41:22,687
or creation, of time,
770
00:41:22,731 --> 00:41:25,231
of human enterprise,
human ingenuity,
771
00:41:25,317 --> 00:41:27,317
and, really,
engineering as a pursuit
772
00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:29,652
of human beings across time.
773
00:41:32,157 --> 00:41:35,408
It's hard to look
at america's monuments
774
00:41:35,494 --> 00:41:37,702
and not feel a sense of wonder.
775
00:41:37,746 --> 00:41:40,830
They serve to remind us
that while they may last
776
00:41:40,874 --> 00:41:45,752
for centuries, we only serve
as their temporary caretakers.
777
00:41:45,837 --> 00:41:48,421
And despite their
groundbreaking engineering
778
00:41:48,507 --> 00:41:50,715
and fascinating histories,
779
00:41:50,759 --> 00:41:54,427
there is much about them
that is a mystery.
780
00:41:54,471 --> 00:41:58,890
A mystery that guarantees
that they will remain
781
00:41:58,934 --> 00:42:01,726
unexplained.
782
00:42:01,811 --> 00:42:04,354
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