Washington Monument
Later history
### Later history

[thumb\|upright\=1\|The Principal High Buildings of the Old World design from 1884 with Washington Monument as the tallest structure represented](/wiki/File:Worlds_tallest_buildings%2C_1884.jpg "Worlds tallest buildings, 1884.jpg")
[thumb\|upright\=1\|View of the [White House](/wiki/White_House "White House") and Northern Washington from the top of the Washington Monument in the early 1900s](/wiki/File:White_House_from_the_Washington_Monument%2C_Washington%2C_D.C..jpg "White House from the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C..jpg")
[left\|thumb\|upright\=1\|The monument undergoing restoration in 1999](/wiki/File:WashingtonMonumentSenorAnderson.jpg "WashingtonMonumentSenorAnderson.jpg")
At completion, it was the world's tallest building, until the [Eiffel Tower](/wiki/Eiffel_Tower "Eiffel Tower") was completed four years later in [Paris](/wiki/Paris%2C_France "Paris, France") in 1889\. It is still the [tallest building in Washington, D.C.](/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Washington%2C_D.C. "List of tallest buildings in Washington, D.C.") The [Heights of Buildings Act of 1910](/wiki/Heights_of_Buildings_Act_of_1910 "Heights of Buildings Act of 1910") restricts new building heights to no more than  greater than the width of the adjacent street. This monument is taller than the obelisks around the capitals of Europe and in [Egypt](/wiki/Egypt "Egypt") and [Ethiopia](/wiki/Ethiopia "Ethiopia"), but ordinary antique obelisks were quarried as a monolithic block of stone, and were therefore seldom taller than approximately .[Edward Chaney](/wiki/Edward_Chaney "Edward Chaney"), "Roma Britannica and the Cultural Memory of Egypt: Lord Arundel and the Obelisk of Domitian", in *Roma Britannica: Art Patronage and Cultural Exchange in Eighteenth\-Century Rome*, eds. D. Marshall, K. Wolfe and S. Russell, British School at Rome, 2011, pp. 147–170\.

The Washington Monument attracted enormous crowds before it officially opened. For six months after its dedication, 10,041 people climbed the 900 steps and 47 large landings to the top. After the [elevator](/wiki/Elevator "Elevator") that had been used to raise building materials was altered to carry passengers, the number of visitors grew rapidly, and an average of 55,000 people per month were going to the top by 1888, only three years after its completion and dedication. The annual visitor count peaked at an average of 1\.1 million people between 1979 and 1997\. From 2005 to 2010, when restrictions were placed on the number of visitors allowed per day, the Washington Monument had an annual average of 631,000 visitors. As with all historic areas administered by the [National Park Service](/wiki/National_Park_Service "National Park Service") (an agency of the [U.S. Department of the Interior](/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Interior "United States Department of the Interior")), the national memorial was listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places "National Register of Historic Places") on October 15, 1966\.

In the early 1900s, material started oozing out between the outer stones of the first construction period below the  mark, and was referred to by tourists as "geological tuberculosis". This was caused by the weathering of the cement and rubble filler between the outer and inner walls. As the lower section of the monument was exposed to cold and hot and damp and dry weather conditions, the material dissolved and worked its way through the cracks between the stones of the outer wall, solidifying as it dripped down their outer surface.["Washington Monument attacked by Geological Tuberculosis"](https://books.google.com/books?id=-t0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA829)  *Popular Mechanics*, December 1911, pp. 829–830\. This source mistakenly said the lower 190 feet was constructed during the early period—it was actually 150 feet.

For ten hours in December 1982, the Washington Monument and eight tourists were held hostage by a nuclear arms protester, [Norman Mayer](/wiki/Norman_Mayer "Norman Mayer"), claiming to have explosives in a van he drove to the monument's base. [United States Park Police](/wiki/United_States_Park_Police "United States Park Police") shot and killed Mayer. The monument was undamaged in the incident, and it was discovered later that Mayer did not have explosives. After this incident, the surrounding grounds were modified in places to restrict the possible unauthorized approach of motor vehicles.

The monument underwent an extensive restoration project between the years of 1998 and 2001\. During this time it was completely covered in scaffolding designed by the American architect [Michael Graves](/wiki/Michael_Graves "Michael Graves") (who was also responsible for the interior changes). The project included cleaning, repairing and [repointing](/wiki/Repointing "Repointing") the monument's exterior and interior stonework. The stone in publicly accessible interior spaces was encased in glass to prevent vandalism, while new windows with narrower frames were installed (to increase the viewing space). New exhibits celebrating the life of George Washington, and the monument's place in history, were also added.

A temporary interactive visitor center, dubbed the "Discovery Channel Center" was also constructed during the project. The center provided a simulated ride to the top of the monument, and shared information with visitors during phases in which the monument was closed. The majority of the project's phases were completed by summer 2000, allowing the monument to reopen July 31, 2000\. The monument temporarily closed again on December 4, 2000, to allow a new elevator cab to be installed, completing the final phase of the restoration project. The new cab included glass windows, allowing visitors to see some of the 194 memorial stones with their inscriptions embedded in the monument's walls. The installation of the cab took much longer than anticipated, and the monument did not reopen until February 22, 2002\. The final cost of the restoration project was $10\.5 million.

On September 7, 2004, the monument closed for a $15 million renovation, which included numerous security upgrades and redesign of the monument grounds by landscape architect [Laurie Olin](/wiki/Laurie_Olin "Laurie Olin") (b. 1938\). The renovations were due partly to security concerns following the [September 11, 2001 attacks](/wiki/September_11_attacks "September 11 attacks") and the start of the [War on Terror](/wiki/War_on_Terror "War on Terror"). The monument reopened April 1, 2005, while the surrounding grounds remained closed until the landscape was finished later that summer.

#### 2011 earthquake damage

On August 23, 2011, the Washington Monument sustained damage during the 5\.8 magnitude [2011 Virginia earthquake](/wiki/2011_Virginia_earthquake "2011 Virginia earthquake"); over 150 cracks were found in the monument. A National Park Service spokesperson reported that inspectors discovered a crack near the top of the structure, and announced that the monument would be closed indefinitely. A block in the [pyramidion](/wiki/Pyramidion "Pyramidion") also was partially dislodged, and pieces of stone, stone chips, mortar, and paint chips came free of the monument and "littered" the interior stairs and observation deck.[Sullivan, Patricia. "Washington Monument Cracks Indicate Earthquake Damage." *Washington Post.* August 25, 2011\.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post_now/post/washington-monument-cracks-indicate-earthquake-damage-photos/2011/08/25/gIQAfFwmdJ_blog.html) Assessed August 26, 2011\. The Park Service said it was bringing in two structural engineering firms ([Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.](/wiki/Wiss%2C_Janney%2C_Elstner_Associates%2C_Inc. "Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.") and Tipping Mar Associates) with extensive experience in historic buildings and earthquake\-damaged structures to assess the monument.["Washington Monument Finds Additional Cracks." Press release. National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. August 25, 2011](http://www.nps.gov/nama/parknews/washington-monument-finds-additional-cracks.htm) . Retrieved August 26, 2011\.

Officials said an examination of the monument's exterior revealed a "debris field" of mortar and pieces of stone around the base of the monument, and several "substantial" pieces of stone had fallen inside the memorial. A crack in the central stone of the west face of the pyramidion was  wide and  long.Nuckols, Ben. ["Weather May Delay Washington Monument Rappelling"](https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-may-delay-washington-monument-rappelling-172525819.html)  Associated Press. September 27, 2011\. Park Service inspectors also discovered that the elevator system had been damaged, and was operating only to the  level, but was soon repaired.

On September 27, 2011, [Denali National Park](/wiki/Denali_National_Park "Denali National Park") ranger Brandon Latham arrived to assist four climbers belonging to a "difficult access" team from Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates. The reason for the inspection was the park agency's suspicion that there were more cracks on the monument's upper section not visible from the inside. The agency said it filled the cracks that occurred on August 23\. After [Hurricane Irene](/wiki/Hurricane_Irene_%282011%29 "Hurricane Irene (2011)") hit the area on August 27, water was discovered inside the memorial, leading the Park Service to suspect there was more undiscovered damage. The rappellers used radios to report what they found to engineering experts on the ground. Wiss, Janney, Elstner climber Dave Megerle took three hours to set up the rappelling equipment and set up a barrier around the monument's lightning rod system atop the pyramidion; it was the first time the hatch in the pyramidion had been open since 2000\.

The external inspection of the monument was completed on October 5, 2011\. In addition to the  long west crack, the inspection found several corner cracks and surface spalls (pieces of stone broken loose) at or near the top of the monument, and more loss of joint mortar lower down the monument. The full report was issued in December 2011\. Bob Vogel, Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, emphasized that the monument was not in danger of collapse. "It's structurally sound and not going anywhere", he told the national media at a press conference on September 26, 2011\.

More than $200,000 was spent between August 24 and September 26 inspecting the structure. The National Park Service said that it would soon begin sealing the exterior cracks on the monument to protect it from rain and snow.[Washington Monument Earthquake Update](http://www.nps.gov/wamo/washington-monument-earthquake-update.htm) , *NPS*, page contains news releases, a picture, video, and images of the earthquake and damage

On July 9, 2012, the [National Park Service](/wiki/National_Park_Service "National Park Service") announced that the monument would be closed for repairs until 2014\. The [National Park Service](/wiki/National_Park_Service "National Park Service") hired construction management firm Hill International in conjunction with joint\-venture partner Louis Berger Group to provide coordination between the designer, Wiss, Janney, and Elstner Associates, the general contractor Perini, and numerous stakeholders. NPS said a portion of the plaza at the base of the monument would be removed and [scaffolding](/wiki/Scaffolding "Scaffolding") constructed around the exterior. In July 2013, lighting was added to the scaffolding. Some stone pieces saved during the 2011 inspection would be refastened to the monument, while "Dutchman patches" would be used in other places. Several of the stone lips that help hold the pyramidion's  exterior slabs in place were also damaged, so engineers installed stainless steel brackets to more securely fasten them to the monument.[Ruane, Michael E. "Earthquake\-Damaged Washington Monument May Be Closed Into 2014\." *Washington Post.* July 9, 2012](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/earthquake-damaged-washington-monument-may-be-closed-into-2014/2012/07/09/gJQAXrTNYW_story.html). Retrieved July 14, 2012

The National Park Service reopened the Washington Monument to visitors on May 12, 2014, eight days ahead of schedule. Repairs to the monument cost $15 million, with taxpayers funding $7\.5 million of the cost and [David Rubenstein](/wiki/David_Rubenstein "David Rubenstein") funding the other $7\.5 million. At the reopening Interior Secretary [Sally Jewell](/wiki/Sally_Jewell "Sally Jewell"), *[Today](/wiki/Today_%28U.S._TV_program%29 "Today (U.S. TV program)")* show weatherman [Al Roker](/wiki/Al_Roker "Al Roker"), and *[American Idol](/wiki/American_Idol "American Idol")* [Season 12](/wiki/American_Idol_%28season_12%29 "American Idol (season 12)") winner [Candice Glover](/wiki/Candice_Glover "Candice Glover") were present.

#### Subsequent problems and repairs

The monument continued to be plagued by problems after the earthquake, including in January 2017 when the lights illuminating it went out.["The lights went out at the Washington Monument"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2017/01/04/lights-out-at-the-washington-monument/), Dana Hedgpeth. [Washington Post](/wiki/Washington_Post "Washington Post"). January 4, 2017\. Retrieved January 4, 2017 The monument was closed again in September 2016 due to reliability issues with the elevator system. On December 2, 2016, the National Park Service announced that the monument would be closed until 2019 in order to modernize the elevator. The $2–3 million project was to correct the elevator's ongoing mechanical, electrical and computer issues, which had shuttered the monument since August 17\. The National Park Service requested funding in its FY 2017 President's Budget Request to construct a permanent screening facility for the Washington Monument. The final months of closure were for mitigation of possibly contaminated underground soil thought to have been introduced in the 1880s. The monument reopened September 19, 2019\.

#### Repeated closures

After reopening in September 2019, the Washington Monument was closed on March 14, 2020, because of the [COVID\-19 pandemic](/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic").Jen Rose Smith. ["These US national parks are closed because of coronavirus."](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/us-national-parks-closed-coronavirus-wellness/index.html) CNN Travel, 17 March 2020\. Retrieved 20 August 2021\. It reopened on October 1, 2020,Lauren Lantry. ["The Washington Monument is reopening Wednesday after being closed because of COVID."](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/washington-monument-reopening-wednesday-closed-covid/story?id=78809903) *ABC News.* 14 July 2021\. Retrieved 20 August 2021\. and remained open through the remainder of that year, except for brief closures.Joey Garrison. ["Washington Monument closed down after Interior Secretary tests positive for COVID\-19\."](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/18/washington-monument-closed-down-after-secretary-positive-covid-19/3958784001/) *USA Today.* 18 December 2020\. Retrieved 20 August 2021\. On January 11, 2021, a few days after the [January 6 United States Capitol attack](/wiki/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack "January 6 United States Capitol attack"), the National Park Service announced a two\-week closure of the monument until after the [presidential inauguration](/wiki/Inauguration_of_Joe_Biden "Inauguration of Joe Biden") due to "credible threats to visitors and park resources". Following a lack of violence, the closure was extended due to a revival of COVID\-19 fears.Greg Clary. ["."](https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/23/politics/washington-monument-closed-coronavirus/index.html) *CNN Politics*. 23 January 2021\. Retrieved 20 August 2021\. The monument then reopened on July 14, 2021, only to close yet again on August 16 for two weeks due to lightning strikes which damaged some electrical systems.Alejandro Alvarez. ["Washington Monument closed for 4th day after lightning strike."](https://wtop.com/local/2021/08/washington-monument-closed-for-4th-day-after-lightning-strike/) *WTOP News.*. 19 August 2021\. Retrieved 20 August 2021\.

On September 20, 2022, the monument was closed for one evening because a man was defacing the monument with red paint and [graffiti](/wiki/Graffiti "Graffiti"). He was arrested and charged with vandalism, to which he pleaded guilty, and later sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to pay restitution to the Park Service.


How often has the Washington Monument been closed?