Washington National Cathedral reopened after earthquake damage

The cathedral has reopened to the public after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake damaged it in August and a crane that was put in place to repair the earthquake damage toppled onto the cathedral as high winds and rain swept through the area. The cost of the repairs ran into the millions.

5 Seconds

00:00

Aug. 22, 2012

Stonemason Sean Callahan tests a crocket for fit on top of the National Cathedral.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Aug. 22, 2012

Stonemason Andy Uhl works on the National Cathedral.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Aug. 22, 2012

A limestone element on top of the cathedral was damaged in the earthquake.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Aug. 22, 2012

Stonemason Andy Uhl works on top of the National Cathedral.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Aug. 22, 2012

This section of stone twisted off axis and cracked during the earthquake.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Dec. 7, 2011

Washington National Cathedral stone carvers Andy Uhl, right, and Sean Callahan, center, position a piece of limestone.

Mark Gail / The Washington Post

Dec. 7, 2011

Washington National Cathedral stone carver Andy Uhl works with a piece of limestone.

Mark Gail / The Washington Post

Dec. 7, 2011

The face of a cherub damaged in the August earthquake sits in the stone masons’ workshop at the Washington National Cathedral.

Mark Gail / The Washington Post

Dec. 7, 2011

Washington National Cathedral stone carver Andy Uhl works with a piece of limestone.

Mark Gail / The Washington Post

Dec. 7, 2011

Washington National Cathedral stone carver Sean Callahan holds a template against the top tiers of a pinnacle.

Mark Gail / The Washington Post

Dec. 7, 2011

Tools used by stone carvers at the Washington National Cathedral are piled up.

Mark Gail / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

Marymount University students Jessica Calkins and Mary Domalski photograph Washington National Cathedral for a class project as it reopens to the public.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

People gather before services on Washington National Cathedral's reopening day.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

Patrizia Cimino, from New York City, photographs the stained glass windows on the day of Washington National Cathedral's reopening to the public.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

Congregants gather for Communion from new Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde at Washington National Cathedral on the cathedral's reopening day.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

Georgetown University students Grace Strmecki, 18, and Andrea Price, 19, check out the stained glass windows on the day of Washington National Cathedral's reopening to the public.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

Mariann Budde, the new bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, had to knock on the front door of Washington National Cathedral to be allowed in as part of the seating process. Verger Duke DuTeil helps her with the door.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

Mariann Budde is applauded as she's introduced as the new Episcopal bishop of Washington at Washington National Cathedral.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

A long line forms at Washington National Cathedral to greet the new Episocal bishop, Mariann Budde, second from right, after services.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

New Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde is seated at Washington National Cathedral upon the cathedral's reopening to the public.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

Mariann Budde walks through to be seated as the new bishop at Washington National Cathedral.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Nov. 13, 2011

People leave Washington National Cathedral after Sunday services.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Oct. 17, 2011

Katie Francis, left, and Emma Cardini, members of the "difficult access team" from Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, rappel down Washington National Cathedral's northwest tower. Repairs continue on the intricate English Gothic cathedral following the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck the East Coast on Aug. 23.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 17, 2011

Katie Francis, a member of the "difficult access team" from Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, rappels down Washington National Cathedral's northwest tower.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 17, 2011

Katie Francis, left, and Emma Cardini of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates work on the cathedral's northwest tower. The cathedral is seeking to raise $15 million for short-term repairs to damage caused by the earthquake.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 17, 2011

Katie Francis, left, and Emma Cardini rappel down the facade of Washington National Cathedral. The earthquake shook large stone pinnacles and other decorative elements from their foundations.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 17, 2011

Katie Francis, left, and Emma Cardini work near the top of the cathedral's northwest tower. The cathedral is 301 feet tall.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 13, 2011

Head stone mason Joe Alonso, stone carver Andy Uhl and Dave McAllister help guide the damaged upper portions of the southeast grand pinnacle to the top of the central tower of the Washington National Cathedral. The cathedral's central tower pinnacles were damaged by the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the East Coast on Aug. 23.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 13, 2011

The Washington National Cathedral’s central tower is shrouded in fog as a worker secures a beam on the southwest grand pinnacle.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 13, 2011

Alonso and Uhl oversee the removal of the damaged upper portion of the southeast grand pinnacle, which weighs two tons, from the central tower of the Washington National Cathedral. The damaged portions of the cathedral’s pinnacles are being removed to make the pinnacles and central tower stable until the stonework can be repaired and put back in place.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 13, 2011

The central tower of the Washington National Cathedral is shrouded in fog as repairs continue on the structure.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 13, 2011

Alonso and Uhl oversee the removal of damaged upper portions of the southeast grand pinnacle.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 13, 2011

Alonso and Uhl oversee the removal of damaged stone.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 13, 2011

The central tower of the Washington National Cathedral is shrouded in fog as repairs continue.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Oct. 13, 2011

Alonso, McAllister and Uhl watch as the damaged upper portions of the southeast grand pinnacle are lifted away by a crane.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

Washington National Cathedral's head mason, Joe Alonso, discusses the intricacies of the repairs to the cathedral.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

Washington National Cathedral's head mason, Joe Alonso, discusses the repairs.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

Washington National Cathedral's head mason, Joe Alonso, talks about the repairs.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

Head mason Joe Alonso walks along the north transept overcroft as repairs continue on the Washington National Cathedral.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

A tarp covers the Herb Cottage, which was damaged after a crane crashed to the ground as high winds from Hurricane Irene swept through the Washington area in August.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

A tarp covers the Herb Cottage.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

A gargoyle's head dangles from its perch on the Washington National Cathedral.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

Repairs continue on the Washington National Cathedral's central tower.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

Steel beams are placed atop the central tower as repairs continue on the Washington National Cathedral's central tower.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

A view of the Washington National Cathedral's central tower.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 29, 2011

Repairs are underway on the Washington National Cathedral's central tower.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 7, 2011

The cab of a construction crane, used to make repairs in the wake of the recent earthquake, sticks straight up in the air after it collapsed on the grounds of Washington National Cathedral.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Sept. 7, 2011

A crane put in place to repair the earthquake-damaged Washington National Cathedral toppled as high winds and rain swept through the area.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 7, 2011

The accident sent the crane's operator to the hospital, damaged two out-buildings and crushed several vehicles.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 7, 2011

The crane was lifting supplies to the top of the cathedral, as part of ongoing earthquake repair, when it collapsed without warning.

Mark Wilson / Getty Images

Sept. 7, 2011

The crane lay twisted on South Road, which is along the south side of the cathedral.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Sept. 7, 2011

The Rev. Simon Bautista, the canon for Latino Ministries for the diocese, said the falling crane sounded like "thunder."

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Sept. 7, 2011

Emergency personnel take in the spectacle of the toppled crane near the cathedral.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Sept. 7, 2011

A spokesman for the cathedral said the cathedral itself was not damaged when the crane came down.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Sept. 7, 2011

The operator was inside the crane when it fell but reportedly walked away from the crash. A person was also reportedly in one of the vehicles that was damaged.

Mark Wilson / Getty Images

Sept. 1, 2011

Workers install industrial-strength netting as a precaution against falling limestone, as the cathedral prepares to reopen for scheduled events after the earthquake that rattled the East Coast on Aug 23.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 1, 2011

Head stone mason Joe Alonso gestures toward the ceiling of the cathedral where a few pieces of limestone were dislodged in the earthquake.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 1, 2011

Workers put up industrial-strength netting.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 1, 2011

Allen Watts of Washington watches as netting is installed at the cathedral. A 5.8-magnitude earthquake caused three of four spires on the cathedral’s central tower to break and fall onto the building’s roof. Cracks were spotted on some of the cathedral’s flying buttresses.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 1, 2011

Workers install industrial-strength netting only as a precaution, as the overall structure of the cathedral remains sound, a cathedral spokesman said.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 1, 2011

Light from several stained-glass windows spills onto the massive columns at the cathedral.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Sept. 1, 2011

Industrial-strength netting will slightly obscure the view of the ceiling of the cathedral.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 23, 2011

When a magnitude-5.8 earthquake struck the East Coast, it rattled off three of the four towering spires of the cathedral. The spires are the highest and most visible points in the District.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

The cathedral's insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage, a spokesman said.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

The most evident damage isn’t the only portion of the cathedral that needs attention. Cathedral officials said they need to check and stabilize the hundreds of limestone angels and smaller spires to ensure nothing falls.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

Jim Cutts, a structural engineer who worked for years on the cathedral, left, and architect Tony Segreti inspect a fallen pinnacle on the roof.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

Head mason Joe Alonso said repairs would cost in the millions, "no doubt about it."

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

Chunks of Indiana limestone are strewn across the roof of the cathedral's central tower.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

The limestone exterior is dotted with cracks. The cathedral, which typically attracts about 300 tourists a day and holds three daily worship services this time of year, was temporarily closed after the earthquake.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

A figure of an angel, dislodged from the southwest pinnacle of the central tower, sits on the roof.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 23, 2011

Stone from a spire fell onto the cathedral's south entrance.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 24, 2011

After the damage was discovered, an interfaith service that had been planned to mark the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial had to be moved from the cathedral.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 23, 2011

Onlookers gather to check out the damage.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Aug. 23, 2011

"It's just surreal," said head mason Joe Alonso, who has worked at the cathedral for almost 30 years,

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

James Gandolfini stars as Tony Soprano in the critically acclaimed HBO series 'The Sopranos.' The show received 16 Emmy nominations Thursday, July 22, 1999, including best dramatic series and best actor for Gandolfini. It is the first cable show ever recognized in the dramatic series category. (AP Photo/HO, HBO, Anthony Nesta) Original Filename: EMMY NOMINATIONS.jpg ORG XMIT: LA109

James Gandolfini dies at 51

James Gandolfini, whose portrayal of a brutal, emotionally delicate mob boss in HBO’s “The Sopranos” helped create one of TV’s greatest drama series and turned...

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 19: Vice President Joe Biden speaks before the Frederick Douglass statue now permanently placed in the US Capitol's Emancipation Hall in Washington, DC on June 19, 2013. The statue of the abolition leader was chosen by District residents to represent them in the Capitol because of his stance on self governance according to Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). The statue by artist Steven Weitzman, was blocked from it's placement in the Capitol for years, a victim of rules that stated that only the 50 states can display statues of their favored sons and daughters in the Capitol. The House and Senate passed a resolution last month allowing DC to be represented in Emancipation Hall which features statues of notable leaders nominated by each state. (Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post)

Frederick Douglass statue unveiled in the Capitol

The carving of the famed abolitionist and District advocate finds its place inside the halls of Congress.

TV presenter and conservationist Anneka Tanaka-Svenska wears a hat designed by Louis Mariette during the first day of Royal Ascot, in Berkshire, west of London, on June 18, 2013. The five-day meeting is one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar. Horse racing has been held at the famous Berkshire course since 1711 and tradition is a hallmark of the meeting. Top hats and tails remain compulsory in parts of the course while a daily procession of horse-drawn carriages brings the Queen to the course. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNISADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images

Photos of the day

Royal Ascot, protests in Brazil, Lego exhibition, flooding in India, Cheetah-Cub robot and more.

Two-year old male rat named Dyatlik wears a costume during a rodent exhibition in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, June 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Animal views

Rodent exhibition, swimming with elephants, Mexico’s feline mayoral candidate and more.

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 18: Madonna attends the Dolce & Gabbana and The Cinema Society screening of the Epix World premiere of 'Madonna: The MDNA Tour' at The Paris Theatre on June 18, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Madonna, Michael Buble, Barbara Streisand, Jackie Chan, Jerry Seinfeld, Estelle and other celebrities.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Johnathon Carrington, valedictorian at Dunbar High School, laughs with family and friends after his school's graduation ceremony at Howard University on Friday, June 14, 2013, in Washington, DC. Carrington, who grew up in Tyler House public-housing apartments and is graduating from one of DC's low-performing high schoolsy, where academic expectations are high. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Johnathon’s journey

Johnathon Carrington graduated Friday as the valedictorian of his neighborhood school, Dunbar High, and is headed to Georgetown University. But Carrington, 17, is nervous, and so are...

In this June 8, 2013 photo, youth compete in the Sao Carlos slum local soccer tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The pitch is just dirt and the incandescent lights aren't so bright. But when the boys' feet strike the football in the Sao Carlos slum as night falls every Saturday, big league dreams glow, inflated by the hope of escaping the shantytown with sporting skills. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Brazil’s other soccer fields

With the Confederations Cup opening this week and the World Cup one year away, all eyes are on Brazil, where soccer is arguably played with more passion and art than anywhere else....

Inmates walk at a high-security male prison camp outside Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk May 14, 2013. High-security male prison camp number 17 is intended to house male inmates who are serving a sentence for the first time, and have been convicted for serious crimes. Prisoners at the facility work in wood and metal processing shops, manufacture furniture, sew clothes and do other kinds of work. They can also take part in educational, sport and cultural programs. Picture taken May 14, 2013. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin (RUSSIA - Tags: CRIME LAW SOCIETY) ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 4 OF 29 FOR PACKAGE 'INSIDE SIBERIA'S PRISONS' SEARCH 'ILYA PRISON' FOR ALL IMAGES

Life in a Siberian prison

A look inside a high-security prison camp outside Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.