“The Washington Monument has become a beacon for freedom and a symbol of our country.”
—DAVID RUBENSTEIN
A National Treasure Restored
In August 2011, the Washington Monument was forced to close after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Washington, DC. The quake caused significant damage, including more than 150 cracks, spalls and displacements of stones and joints throughout the structure.
Mr. Rubenstein contributed half of the funds needed for repairing the monument, and Congress allocated the other half. The donation, which was made to the Trust for the National Mall, was the largest individual gift in the trust’s history. The restoration work began in late 2012, and the Washington Monument reopened on May 12, 2014, serving as a model for other successful public-private partnerships with the federal government.
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