From Washington DC-It was two years ago Friday that a rare earthquake shook the nation's capital, leaving most buildings in the Washington area unharmed but taking a toll on two of the city's most iconic structures—the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral.
Perched atop Mount St. Alban and visible from most points in the city, the cathedral sustained significant damage, from the cracking of rooftop finials to the toppling of pinnacles and the opening of cracks in flying buttresses of the apse.
Much like the monument, the soaring Gothic edifice remains shrouded in scaffolding two years after the quake. Cathedral administrators outlined the progress of the restoration efforts during a press conference Thursday. From the unique vantage point of a "dance floor" platform 60 feet above the west balcony over the cathedral's nave, the magnitude of the task is clear: The nave stretches approximately one-tenth of a mile.
One year ago, masons placed one of the first stones to be repaired atop the central tower. Andrew Hullinger, senior director of finance and administration, noted that the move was largely symbolic, as "we've done very little work up there since then." Instead, the focus has shifted toward a comprehensive assessment of the scope of the damage and to planning for restoration.
More here-
http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/national-cathedral-still-shaken-by-earthquake-that-struck-2-years-ago-20130822
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