Washington Monument In D.C To Close Until 2019 For Repairs, Improvements
By FOX 5 DC // December 3, 2016
monument has become a symbol of our country
(FOX DC) – Once again, businessman and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein has come through for the National Park Service. This time, he’s pledged funding needed to modernize the Washington Monument’s elevator– but the monument will remain closed until 2019 while repairs and improvements are underway.
Rubenstein’s donation of between $2-3 million, announced Friday, will correct those ongoing elevator issues, which have shuttered the monument since August 17.
“The monument has become a symbol of our country, and reminds everyone of the towering strengths of our first president,” Rubenstein said. “I am honored to help make this symbol safely accessible again to all Americans as soon as practicable.”
His gift to the National Park Foundation’s Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks will allow the National Park Service to replace the computer system that controls the elevator, and to add a remote diagnostic system, which will permit technicians to more quickly determine the cause of problems when they occur.
