Nevada’s contribution to the Washington Monument is located at the 220 level of the monument. The Nevada Stone is a black piece of granite measuring two feet by three feet. The phrase “All For Our Country: NEVADA: 1881” adorns the face of the stone. The word “NEVADA” is gilded in gold leaf, contrasting the rest of the phrase. Originally, the letters were made of solid silver, as Nevada calls itself the “Silver State.” Silver mining in Nevada began in 1858 with the discovery of the Comstock Lode, the first major silver-mining district in the United States. Nevada is the nation’s second-largest producer of silver, after Alaska. It is recorded that by 1910 the block’s silver letters were systematically stolen after the initial installation from the stone until one remained. The first refence of issues regarding the theft of the letters was recorded as early as 1887. To prevent a final theft, the letter was removed and placed into safe-keeping. The letters of the phrase were gilded, and “NEVADA” was etched in gold leaf. The stone is attributed to an unknown sculptor, J. Barrett. According to the history of the stone, it originally traveled to Washington, D.C., along the Central Pacific Railroad, with arrival confirmed by Horatio King, Secretary of the Washington Monument Society in a letter dating to November 1881. The block was placed in the monument the following month.