Editor’s Note: There is $1.50 fee to reserve your tickets to the Washington Monument.
After $15 million in repairs and a shutdown of some 32 months, the Washington Monument is reopening May 13 — and you can start reserving your tickets Wednesday.
The National Park Service will make tickets available on a first come, first served basis starting at 8:30 a.m., according to NBC4 and The Associated Press. Tickets are available at the Washington Monument Lodge, on 15th Street, between Madison and Jefferson drives. Tour tickets are also available online at the National Park Service’s reservation page, beginning Wednesday at 10 a.m.
The monument shut down Aug. 23, 2011 after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake rumbled through the East Coast. Workers discovered dislodged stones and mortar, along with cracks, following the quake.
The iconic 555-foot obelisk sported a new look for many months: It was surrounded by scaffolding as workers made the repairs. Following the quake, Washington philanthropist David Rubenstein pledged to pay half the $15 million repair bill. Congress allocated funds to pay the rest.
We told you in March about the reopening. We’ve also been keeping you up to speed on enhancements the Park Service has in mind around the monument.
The Washington Monument typically sees some 700,000 visitors annually.
FYI, there will be extended visiting hours this summer, with the monument open 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily.
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