A restaurant overlooking the pond Constitution Gardens? Terraced landscaping on the grounds of the Washington Monument that face a newly renovated Sylvan Theatre? Both are part of winning design proposals in a competition to redesign two iconic sites on the National Mall.
Winners Announced in Competition to Redesign Constitution Gardens, Sylvan Theatre and Union Square
In Redesign Competition, Architects Envision a New, More Lively National Mall
Twelve design proposals to redesign three sites on the National Mall go on display today as part of a contest to rejuvenate and enliven America's front yard.
Let's Call it the Leaning Monument of Washington
The Washington Monument suffered a few cracks after last August's earthquake, but inspectors have been checking to see if the local landmark may be victim to more serious damage.
Welcome to D.C., Now Mind the Construction
Lots of Washington is under construction, and in just in time for the influx of tourists.
Happy 127th Birthday, Washington Monument!
It was on this day 127 years ago that the Washington Monument was dedicated.
Local Philanthropist Kicks In For Washington Monument Fixes
Local philanthropist David Rubenstein has agreed to split the cost of repairing the Washington Monument with the federal government, kicking in $7.5 million to patch up the iconic obelisk that was damaged in the August 23 earthquake.
Engineers Conclude Inspections of Washington Monument
This morning, the National Park Service announced that the rappelling inspection of the Washington Monument had been completed. The team of engineers from WJE, who had been sneaking out a trap door at the top of the structure and getting occasionally blown off the side, will now move to the National Cathedral to inspect damage there.
The Saturday Morning Post
Good morning, Washington. Happy October, and happy new fiscal year. A noticeable drop in temperature this weekend reminds us it’s not too long before we’ll witness a noticeable shift in hues. Some may mourn the loss of warmer days but nearly all of us can look forward to approaching shades of autumn. What the new fiscal year will bring is far less certain.
Hey, I Can See My House From Up Here
Here's Dave Megerle, a member of the Wiss, Janney, Elstner, Associates "Difficult Access Team," hanging rappelling ropes at the top of the Washington Monument, nearly 555 feet off the ground.
NPS Releases Washington Monument Earthquake Footage
Here's some pretty wild footage -- the National Park Service has released three videos recorded inside the tip of the Washington Monument as a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit the District on August 23.
Still No Reopen Date for Washington Monument
It remains unclear when the Washington Monument will reopen after several cracks were discovered in its stones after the August earthquake that shook the region. Carol Johnson, a spokesperson for the National Park Service, said assessment of the damage is not complete.
Crack Engineering Firm To Assess Cracked Monument
Did Hurricane Irene wash away your memory of last week's earthquake? Well, the Earth is moving and shaking -- while Irene was doing her thing above ground over the weekend, five aftershocks were reported from underground in Virginia.
D.C. Landmarks Remain Closed Due To Quake Damage
As the region continues to tally the damage incurred during Tuesday's ground-shaking, Flickr user Mr. T in DC supplies us with this up-close view of the damage sustained at the Smithsonian Institution Building, commonly known as The Castle.
Four-Foot Crack Found in Washington Monument [UPDATE]
UPDATE: Well, then: officials have updated their original assessment, and now state that the crack at the top of the Washington Monument is actually a little more than four feet long.
Gray: No "Significant Public Safety Issues" After Quake
During a press conference this afternoon, Mayor Vince Gray said that the District of Columbia was "not aware of any significant public safety issues" as a result of today's earthquake. So, no matter how many breathless media reports are circulating out there claiming that the Washington Monument might be tilting, just know, it's not.
Tea Party Traps Come To Washington
First, there were hipster traps, baited with PBR and American Spirits. Then, bridge and tunnel traps replete with a gold chain, Drakkar Noir and bronzer. The next logical step? Attempting to lure in Tea Partiers on the National Mall with Dick Armey's manifesto and aerosol gun cleaner, of course.
Kite Festival Rescheduled For April 10
Over the weekend, we bemoaned the fact that a little chilly weather could cancel the Blossom Kite Festival. But not to fear! Organizers announced yesterday that the traditional wind-catching festivities have been rescheduled to Sunday, April 10, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the grounds of Washington Monument. Think of it as a whimsical way to end the annual cherry blossom festivities.
Washington Monument Elevator Malfunctions, Visitors May Walk Down
The elevator that goes to the top of the Washington Monument malfunctioned at about 1 p.m. this afternoon, with a number of tourists who had already reached the viewing area still inside the building.
Washington Monument Visiting Hours Extended
Afraid you'll run out of time to show off our city's most prominent phallus to your out of town guests? The Washington Monument is making it easier by extending visiting hours for the rest of the summer.
D.C. Zombie Lurch '07
The verdict on the D.C. Zombie Lurch on Saturday was sadly a little underwhelming ... we estimate there were maybe only two dozen people participating in the mass "Thriller" dance, another two dozen who were dressed as zombies but didn't dance, and then a slightly larger group of pure spectators and/or friends of zombies who didn't dress up. Still, everyone was having a great time, and we got some fun shots of zombies with...
Out and About: Weekend Picks
FRIDAY: >> It's raining, and you've got some serious partying to do tomorrow night, so we'd recommend taking in a movie and saving your strength. Don't miss our movie picks for the weekend here, including special Halloween screenings of Nosferatu at the AFI Silver Theater. Also of note tonight, The American City Diner screens Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho at 8:30 p.m. >> If you’re more in the mood for getting your eardrums absolutely destroyed, Japanese metal...
What's That You Say?
It's that time again, the best comments of the previous week. It was a bountiful week, with World Bank protests, Metro employees chowing down, and new dog park regulations Read on, and register if you haven't! ----- Everybody had something to say about D.C. switching to taxi meters. shawndc: I'm glad Fenty had the balls to stand up to the Taxi commission and move ahead with meters. Let's hope they can get it up and...
Revisiting the Washington Monument
Written by DCist contributor Benjamin Schuman-Stoler Last week in our “revisiting sites we’ve walked by a hundred times" series we presented the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This week, we’ll look at that huge phallus in the exact center of the original D.C. map -- the Washington Monument. Screaming nothing but glory and testament, it is the classic D.C. monument. But we know its background isn’t as simple as its geometric profile. The National Park Service commissioned...
First Look: Jordan's 8
It’s hard to say if Tapatini’s owner Jordan Cappolla should be commended for bringing sleek style and superior sushi to a neighborhood where it was previously impossible to get a decent raw fish fix, or if he should get 80 lashes with a wet noodle for everything else on the menu at Jordan’s 8.
Out and About: Weekend Picks
FRIDAY: >> The city's free concert series follows MC Hammer with a rare appearance by salsa legend Willie Colon, 7-9 p.m. at Woodrow Wilson Center. >> President Nixon’s White House counsel John Dean will be at Politics and Prose to discuss his book, Broken Government, which examines "the institutional damage he believes the Republican Party has inflicted on the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government during the Bush administration." 7 p.m. He'll also be...
Photo of the Day: September 6, 2007
Oooh. We're suckers for shiny new takes on our nation's many marbled monuments. Relatively new contributor InnerDemon took this truly impressive shot of the Washington Monument with an infrared lens on his Nikon D40.
Touch Up D.C. #6
Flickr user randomduck imagines the Washington Monument as a stake in the world's largest game of horseshoes. Besides who could possibly be playing this game (giants, God?), the other question of course is what would be on the other end of the pitch. The Capitol Dome, perhaps? Send your touched up photos of D.C. through the end of August to sommer (at) dcist.com.
Ask DCist: Independence Day Tips
Hey, DCist, I like fireworks and celebrating the birth of our country. Where should I go, what should I do, help a sister out. -DCist reader Sarah The best (and entirely serious) tip we have for you is of course to avoid the National Mall like it's going to give you cancer. It's a sea of tourists and transit trauma every year down there, but this year it's shaping up to be even worse, with...
Photo of the Day: May 15, 2007
Oooh! This photo is actually from January, but was just added to the DCist pool yesterday (I have to wonder if philliefan_99 waited until I was back doing Photo of the Day, knowing what a sucker I am for astrophotography). He stood at the base of the Washington Monument to take this shot of Comet McNaught, the brightest comet most of us have seen in our lifetimes. So bright, in fact, that it was able to shine through the smog and light pollution that usually obscures views from city centers (but which contributed to the gorgeous orange sky). It's almost amazing to note this was only a 1/4 second exposure.

