Poor George. The monument to America's first president took a terrible hit from the August 2011 earthquake. The Washington Monument in D.C. will remain closed to the public, even on George Washington's 280th birthday on February 22.
The good news is that damage has been assessed, inside and outside, and philanthropist David Rubenstein has donated $7.5 million for repairs. Let's hope Congress keeps its promise of matching funds. Happy birthday, George!
Read more about the Washington Monument and the damage assessment....
Photo of contractors conducting exterior assessment of the Washington Monument September 28, 2011 courtesy of the National Park Service. 
