Washington Monument - 2 Years After the Quake

In August 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Washington D.C. area, causing damage to the 555-foot Washington Monument. As the Monument swayed from the quake, some if its exterior marble panels cracked and pieces broke off. Inside the monument, many of the granite stones that support the structure cracked. Most of the damage was in the pyramid-shaped top, called the pyramidion. Project repairs include filling cracks, securing loose stone, fitting new or salvaged stone pieces into damaged areas, stabilizing cracked blocks with steel brackets, repointing mortar joints and replacing the lightning protection system.

This is the view of the monument from the flower gardens adjacent to the Tidal Basin.