Double trouble for Washington Monument (new cracks after Irene)

UPI ^ | Sept. 1, 2011

[markomalley]

Hurricane Irene revealed new cracks in the Washington Monument, which was already closed following the Virginia earthquake, the National Parks Service said.

Spokeswoman Carol Johnson told CNN Wednesday Parks Service employees found standing water in the monument when they inspected it Monday. She said engineers tried to find holes following last week's 5.8 magnitude earthquake and in advance of the hurricane.

"There were some leaks that we were not able to identify or able to plug," Johnson said. "What happened was a lot of mortar popped out, so much so that you can see sunlight above 450 feet in the monument."

The monument has been closed until all damage is repaired. Johnson said engineers determined the earthquake caused no structural damage.

The 555-foot memorial to George Washington, the first U.S. president, was built over several decades in the mid-19th century.

[evets]

"555 feet high, if you add the number 1 to that figure, you come up with 1555...
which was the year we arrived in Jamestown as slaves."

[sam_paine]

I read that the "Laus Deo" (praise be to God) was removed from the replica display inscriptions in '07. That's a shame. It (the cracks and leaking) does seem symbolic.

It still says it on the capstone facing east. The reproduction on exhibit was out of view for a while though. Is this what makes God send earthquakes? Do you stand by your causal assumption?

Thank you for your recent e-mail concerning the replica of the Washington Monument capstone and the associated interpretive panel.

The replica capstone was on display in a tent on the National Mall during recent renovation of the Monument. When it was moved inside the Monument, it was placed against the wall. While the change in placement and wording was never intended to offend anyone, we understand why some visitors might feel otherwise.

We made a mistake and we are fixing it.

The capstone is being moved away from the wall so that visitors will be able to read the engravings on all four sides.

In addition, we will install interpretive panels with the exact language found on all sides of the capstone in letters easy to read. These panels will include the phrase "Laus Deo" (Praise be to God - in Latin).

I hope this is an acceptable solution. If you were personally offended, please accept our sincere apology.

And remember to Experience your America in the National Parks often.

David Barna
Chief of Public Affairs
National Park Service
Washington, DC

[DUMBGRUNT]

Not a monument and only half as tall.
The Monadnock Building.

The Monadnock also marks a historic transition in the development of structural methods. Most of the buildings that preceded it were supported by their outside walls. The north half of the Monadnock is probably the tallest building ever built that is supported primarily by brick walls. At ground level, those walls are six feet thick.

http://www.monadnockbuilding.com/history.htm

[Evil Slayer]

Wasn’t the monument recently repaired? It seems that they did a lot of work in the last few years.

I believe you are referring to the statue of liberty.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

About 150 years old and it breaks in the Obama administration. There's a message there.

I'm thinking it cracked under the strain of GW rolling over in his grave (I know--he's buried at Mt. Vernon).

[mountainlion]

I remember pictures scaffolding around the monument to the top and it was closed to the public. I think it was in the last few years. I think it was after the Statue of Liberty.

[COBOL2Java]

Washington Monument after earthquake:

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Washington Cathedral after earthquake:

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Capitol Building flag after Irene:

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You get the feeling someone's angry?

[Jack of all Trades]

“It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature”

[Jane Long]

Looks like they listened to public concerns about the one side (with Laus Deo) - on the replica - not being viewable. That's good :) Thanks for the update.

[Grumplestiltskin]

I find it ironic that the Washington Monument is cracking apart at this particular time — concurrent with an administration that is intent on doing the same for all the things that the monument represents.

Just sayin’...

[TXnMA]

"I wonder if there are any other purely masonry constructions that are anywhere near the height of the Washington Monument. "

Worlds tallest masonry monument.

The monument at the San Jacinto Battleground (where Texans kicked Santa Ana and his Mexicans out of Texas) is 570 feet tall -- the same height as the Washington Monument -- with a 34-foot star added on top.

But, the star is a composite of stone, steel and concrete...

[SmithL]

The Washington Monument that 0bama inherited from Bush wasn’t cracked and didn’t leak.

[wideminded]

Does the San Jacinto Monument here in Texas meet your qualifications?

According to Wikipedia the San Jacinto Monument is composed mainly of reinforced concrete. I guess that means it contains steel, which means it is not a purely masonry structure. I mainly had in mind the idea of building something without steel, although I'm not sure that poured concrete counts as masonry either.

[wideminded]

Worlds tallest masonry monument

Don't think so. See #33.

This very small picture is on the monument website. It may depict a scaffold but it looks to me like it could also be the base of a steel frame:

[wideminded]

Many cathedrals of Europe are nearly as tall. So is Philadelphia’s city hall.

I've actually been to the top of Ulm Cathedral, so perhaps I should have thought of that. Apparently I didn't know too much about Philadelphia City Hall other than it has a statue of William Penn on top.

[ridesthemiles]

Mineral, Virginia has another aftershock early today, according to SF news station.