Washington Monument to reopen after nearly 3 years

The 130-year-old Washington Monument is set to reopen today for the first time in nearly three years since an earthquake caused widespread damage.
Rainwater leaks have been sealed and more than 150 cracks have been repaired.
The memorial honoring George Washington has been closed for about 33 months for engineers to conduct an extensive analysis and restoration of the 555-foot stone obelisk that was once the tallest structure in the world.
The monument's white marble and mortar were cracked and shaken loose during an unusual 5.8-magnitude earthquake in August 2011 that sent some of the worst vibrations to the top.

Debris fell inside and outside the monument, and visitors scrambled to evacuate. Later, engineers evaluated the damage by rappelling from the top, dangling from ropes.
Now new exhibits have been installed, and visitors can once again ride an elevator to look out from the highest point in the US capital. The full restoration cost USD 15 million.

Businessman and philanthropist David Rubenstein contributed USD 7.5 million to pay half the cost and expedite the repairs.
During an early look at the restored monument, Rubenstein hiked to the top, climbing the stairs in a suit and tie.
Memorial plaques inside the monument from each state seemed to be clean and intact, and the view from the top "is really spectacular," said Rubenstein, the billionaire co-CEO of The Carlyle Group.

During the monument's restoration, the AP had a look at some of the worst damage from the 500-foot (150-metre) level. Stones were chipped and cracked all the way through with deep gashes in some places. Others had hairline cracks that had to be sealed.
The monument was built in two phases between 1848 and 1884. When it was completed, it was the world's tallest structure for five years until it was eclipsed by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The monument remains the world's tallest freestanding stone structure.
It normally draws about 700,000 visitors a year. The National Park Service will offer extended seasonal hours to visit the monument beginning tomorrow and through the summer from 9 am to 10 pm each day.