Washington Monument Earthquake Damage - Interior Inspection

Footage of workers from Wiss, Janney, Elstner, Associates assessing damage to the interior of the Washington Monument using ground penetrating radar to search for anything embedded in the stones, such as anchors, etc. The GPR was also used to help determine how the stones are fit together. GPR is one of several kinds of non-destructive testing equipment that was used in the assessment.

On August 23, 2011, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake damaged the exterior and interior of the Washington Monument, with the heaviest damage in the Pyramidion (pointy top), between elevations 475 feet and 530 feet. The damage includes cracks of up to 1 inch thick the full height of several marble panels, chips in the panels, missing mortar, components of the lightning protection system have been displaced, and the elevator counterweight frame was damaged. The National Park Service expects to award a contract to repair the monument by this August; work is expected to take 10-12 months. This video was taken during a recent interior inspection of the monument.

For more information on the earthquake damage and when the monument will reopen to visitors, go to: http://www.nps.gov/wamo/washington-monument-earthquake-update.htm.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• National Park Service
• Climbing
• Monuments
• Washington Monument
• earthquake
• heights