Stone Carvers Work Repairing Earthquake Damaged Cathedral
National Cathedral damage. Photo by Kallie Bienvenu.
WASHINGTON, D.C., (WUSA) - It was six months ago today a five point eight magnitude earthquake shook the D-C area.
And the impact is still being felt in our region. Video surveillance video from inside the Washington Monument showed people running down the stairs when the quake hit. The Monument has been closed ever since and repairs will last until at least next year.
But the National Cathedral sustained more damage than any other building in Washington as a result of the the quake on August 23rd.
Dozens of handcrafted stone pieces fell off the Cathedral and many others were chipped. Stone carvers Sean Callahan and Andy Uhl work daily repairing the limestone finials, pinnacles and other pieces.
It'll take at least five years to complete all the repairs. The Cathedral still needs to raise $18 million dollars for the project. It costs so much money in part because of the all the scaffolding that needs to go up. The Washington National Cathedral is the highest point in the Nation's Capital.
Written by Peggy Fox