VIPS set to view restored Washington Monument

July 2, 2000
Web posted at: 7:31 p.m. EDT (2331 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Coming as the nation celebrates the Fourth of July, one of its best-known symbols will be unveiled Monday in a special ceremony, following a lengthy $10 million facelift.

The restored 112-year old Washington Monument is already on display, but it was closed periodically during the renovations and won't officially open to the public until July 31. But Monday's celebration by the National Park Service will allow for VIP tours of the monument, which was built in honor of George Washington, the nation's first president.

The celebration comes amid fears of terrorist attacks raised by a new report that questions security at the landmark and other monuments in the nation's capital.

MESSAGE BOARD National security     ALSO Washington's monuments may be easy targets for terrorists

The study, commissioned by the National Park Service, found many of them are easy targets for terrorist attacks. It said the Park Police is understaffed, lacks adequate communication equipment and maintains inadequate security perimeters around the monuments.

But park officials said tourists should not be afraid to visit the memorials.

"The National Park Service works very closely with the National Park Police, and we will continue to implement some of the recommendations that were made in the study and again a key component of that is, in fact, staffing," said Lisa Mendelson, a spokeswoman for the park service.

The Washington Monument has been closed to the public for brief periods throughout the renovation, so workers could erect scaffolding around the 555-foot memorial, the world's tallest freestanding masonry structure.

Crews sealed and repaired cracked or chipped stones, and upgraded the heating, ventilation, cooling and electrical systems. They also restored the 192 commemorative stones in the building's interior, through which as many as 3,000 tourists pass each day.

The monument's observation windows and the lightning protection system were also replaced.

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, National Park Service President Jim Maddy and John Remington, vice president of Target Stores, are scheduled to speak at Monday's event. Target and its corporate partners donated a total of $6.5 million for the restoration.

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