The Washington Monument, Reconstruction and Timing

Washington DC had a very unusual earthquake about 2 years ago.  It destroyed some of the statuary at the National Cathedral and cracked the Washington Monument, an iconic obelisk-shaped landmark in the center of the city.  This summer a massive scaffold has gone up over the tower to continue the repairs.  Reconstruction and restoration are common sights for travelers where long-term improvement projects often leave facades covered and historic interiors obstructed.  You can still enjoy these sites with in most cases with minimal impact on your visit!

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Restoration of the Washington Monument takes place behind an artistic scaffold.

Progress Done Right

In general, a reconstruction team is very much aware that they are essentially hiding a notable site and will take steps to accommodate the public whenever possible.  Work may be segmented so limited portions of a cathedral are covered at any one time.  I visited the Duomo of Milan in the early stages of its recent exterior restoration.  Only the lowest level was covered and there were great informational signs explaining each discreet step of the repair.

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I very much like the exterior of the Washington Monument scaffolds.  Blue netting has been hung to create the illusion of blocks thereby creating a more interesting appearance than a construction zone.  It is a nice touch considering the entire structure has to be encased.  Sadly, the night-time scaffold lighting isn’t consistent with this block pattern.

Timing Is Everything

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The interior of the Church of Saint-Maclou in Rouen was closed to visitors and the exterior was almost completely covered in scaffolding. Judging from this mossy gargoyle, the work is definitely needed.

To avoid disappointment, it is a great idea to check ahead for any on-going construction before planning your itinerary.  If a building is completely closed, it’s better to know early so you don’t spend time getting to a site only to be disappointed.

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After Christian remodeling, crude theft and an explosion, the Parthenon is going to be undergoing reconstruction for decades.

Many of these projects are years in duration and so you will almost certainly run into on-going work.  Just remember that restoration is an important part of preserving historic landmarks and so you should take the occasional scaffolding in stride.

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Rouen Cathedral in France has an intricate and beautiful sculptural facade that must be restored slowly and luckily in small pieces.

You will still find something to enjoy even if the view is a little obstructed.  Visitors to the Hagia Sophia in 2010 were probably in awe of that magnificent interior space even though ceiling repairs were underway.

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The Hagia Sophia is always impressive, even with scaffolding. (Photo: Forks In the Road)

There’s always the option to revisit a site after construction is completed.  Imagine having seen the dark muted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or perhaps its partial restoration and then visiting the incredibly colorful masterpiece today?  It would be worth another trip to Rome just to see the restorations completed.  It also helps us justify the years of scaffolding at the Vatican; to see the outcome, you know it was worth it.

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Michelangelo’s “Daniel” shown before and after the major 1994-1999 restoration. (Photo: Wikicommons)

Some Things Just Have to Wait…

As much as I would have liked to see some places in my travels, construction closures have bumped some to my next trip.  Not far from Olympia is the Temple of Apollo Epicurius in Bassae, a 450 BC limestone UNESCO World Heritage.  Badly damaged by acid rain, the temple was placed under a tent in 1987 and has had limited visitor access.  Since I was never able to get opening hour confirmation and since the temple was several hours away, I decided to skip it this time.

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Not a Cristos project, the Temple of Apollo Epicurius in Bassae has been enshrined in a modern protective tent for over 25 years. (Photo: Sacred Destinations, isala66)

I also really wanted to see the brilliant Byzantine mosaics of the Daphni Monastery (of Dafni Monastery) outside Athens.  Unfortunately earthquake damage has closed the site since 1999 so that was also a no-go.  In the last year, visitors have been let inside to view the on-going restoration but on a limited basis, i.e. one morning a week… maybe.  Sounds like something you will definitely need to call ahead and arrange.  I know that the outcome of these restorations is well worth the wait!

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Massive restoration keeps the Daphni Monastery and its incredible decorations closed to the public. (Photo: Wikicommons)

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Saint from the interior of the Dafni Monastery (Photo: ZoeCannas, TripAdvisor)

So have you ever been disappointed to see a highly anticipated treasure obstructed or closed for repair?  Or have you not minded it and still enjoyed your visit?

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