Washington Monument set to reopen after nearly three years

AFP/WashingtonThe Washington Monument, one of the US capital’s most recognisable sights, was to reopen today, three years after sustaining damage from a rare earthquake. The popular tourist attraction is the US capital city’s tallest building at 555ft (170m). The obelisk, built in honour of the first US president, George Washington, was closed after engineers found 150 cracks in the structure following a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in the neighbouring state of Virginia in August 2011. The structure was covered in scaffolding for months on end as the landmark underwent $15mn in repairs, half of which was funded by a private citizen. “This enduring spirit of public-private partnerships has made it possible for visitors to once again enjoy the Monument and its unmatched view of Washington” said US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said in a statement. Jewell will attend a reopening ceremony attended by US celebrities, with accompaniment by the US Navy Band. Public tours recommence after the ceremony, with tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis, officials said. The Washington Monument, completed in 1885, is located in the middle of the National Mall, between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. The 2011 quake rattled a large swathe of the US East Coast, a region not usually prone to earthquakes. It was centred in Louisa County, northwest of Richmond, and also caused significant damage to Washington’s National Cathedral.