Washington Monument closed

The Washington Monument will be closed indefinitely because the 5.8 magnitude earthquake in August did more damage to it than was previously disclosed.

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March 13, 2012

The Jefferson Pier marker is one of the points that scientists from the National Geodetic Survey, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, use to survey the Mall, looking for signs of sinking.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

March 13, 2012

Davey Crockett, a geodetic technician, surveys the Mall, looking for signs of sinking.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

March 13, 2012

Eric Duvall, a geodetic technician, holds a target for surveying on the Mall.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

March 13, 2012

Ned Wallace, foreground, of the National Park Service, and Eric Duvall prepare to help scientists survey the Mall, looking for signs of sinking. Duvall is setting up a target using a point on the monument, and Wallace is opening a cover that contains another survey point.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

March 13, 2012

David Doyle, chief geodetic surveyor, turns a steel rod at the base of the Washington Monument used for surveying. Government surveyors are collecting data around the Washington Monument and other sites on the Mall that will reveal whether it has sunk or tilted since last year's earthquake.

Charles Dharapak / AP

March 13, 2012

A miniature version of the Washington Monument, buried next to the big one, is one of the points that scientists use to survey the Mall.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Jan. 18, 2012

David M. Rubenstein of the Carlyle Group will donate $7.5 million to help fix the Washington Monument, damaged in the earthquake.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jan. 18, 2012

The Washington Monument was extensively damaged during the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the area Aug. 23, and it's been closed ever since.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Oct. 4, 2011

An inspector examines the Washington Monument. The 555-foot monument was damaged by a 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the capital region in August.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

An inspector examines the Washington Monument as a helicopter flies nearby.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Two inspectors examine the Washington Monument.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

An inspector examines the Washington Monument.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

♥

A member of the U.S. Park Police holds a chunk of marble that fell from the top of the Washington Monument onto the 500th floor during last month's earthquake. A team of inspectors is examining each stone of the monument for damage.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

Dan Gach, left, and Emma Cardini are part of the team of inspectors.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

An inspector examines the monument near pyramidion at the top.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Dave Megerle of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates rappels from the top of the Washington Monument during a damage inspection.

Colin Winterbottom / National Park Service via Reuters

Sept. 28, 2011

Dan Gash of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates prepares to rappel down the Washington Monument as inspections began in Washington.

Colin Winterbottom / National Park Service via Reuters

Inspectors examine each face of the Washington Monument. The external inspection began this week and is expected to run for several days.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

The monument has been closed since the earthquake struck and will remain closed until the full extent of the damage is known.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

The work has captivated Washington this week, as passersby watch the tiny figures crawling around the tip of the monument.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

An inspector is suspended along the side of the monument. Officials said that the quake cracked several of the exterior marble blocks and rained smaller debris, mostly weatherizing mortar, on the ground below.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Sept. 27, 2011

A jet passes in the distance as a climber with the National Park Service sets up rigging lines to evaluate earthquake damage to the Washington Monument.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Sept. 27, 2011

Masts from television trucks protrude into the air as Dave Megerle of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates secures rigging at the top of the Washington Monument. Ropes were being secured so that a team could evaluate the damage to the monument from the Aug. 23 earthquake.

Matt McClain / The Washington Post

Sept. 26, 2011

Bob Vogel, superintendent of the Mall and memorial parks for the National Park Service, speaks during a news conference in Washington to update the extent of damage sustained to the Washington Monument from the Aug. 23 earthquake.

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

Sept. 26, 2011

Erin Ward of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates uses a pair of binoculars to make observations of the Washington Monument. A news conference was held Sept. 26 by the National Park Service detailing damage the monument sustained in the Aug. 23 earthquake. Wiss, Janney, Elstner does analysis and repairs of buildings.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

The Washington Monument, seen on Aug. 24, is closed to the public after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake on Aug. 23 caused cracks near the top of the structure.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

Damage to the interior of the Washington Monument.

Carol Johnson / National Park Service

Aug. 24, 2011

Damage to the interior of the Washington Monument.

Carol Johnson / National Park Service

Aug. 24, 2011

Damage to the interior of the Washington Monument.

Carol Johnson / National Park Service

Aug. 24, 2011

A U.S. Park Police officer stands behind a fence at the Washington Monument.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

Engineers take measurements at the base of the Washington Monument. The monument will remain indefinitely closed after the 5.8-magnitude East Coast earthquake left cracks near the top of the 555-foot-tall obelisk.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Aug. 23, 2011

A helicopter flies close to the Washington Monument to survey the exterior for damage after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck the East Coast on Aug. 23. Material fell off the Washington Monument as a result of the earthquake.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

The Washington Monument is seen from Constitution Gardens.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

A view of the Washington Monument from Constitution Gardens.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

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