Thanks to David Rubenstein for donating $7.5 million to help repair earthquake damage to the Washington Monument. I don’t care if the guy is a ba-zillionaire, it’s a grand offer when ponying up $7.5 million.
The federal government is paying the other $7.5 million for repairs, which could take one year. Translation: don’t figure on the Washington Monument re-opening until then. U.S. Park Ranger Nathan King does a great job combing through the Washington Monument Earthquake Assessment to list the critical repairs at Ranger Nathan’s Adventures.
The Washington Monument cost $1 million to build, finishing in 1884. Citizens donated $1. No word if the silver dollar Washington threw across the Rappahannock River was included.
