Baltimore's Restored Washington Monument Comes Out Of Its Cocoon

BALTIMORE (WJZ)— A major phase is wrapping up in the restoration of Baltimore's Washington Monument.

Alex DeMetrick reports a brighter future is literally coming to light.

Baltimore's Washington Monument may sit in the center of the city today, but 199 years ago it was built in the middle of the woods.

It's a project of civic pride.

"They began it on July 4, 1815. It was the first monument to George Washington in the country, so Baltimore is very proud that they had that honor," said Lance Humphries, Mt. Vernon Place Conservancy.

And for months that pride of ownership has been wrapped in scaffolding, as the monument undergoes repairs outside and in.

Water and age are doing a slow motion demolition.

"You can really see all the damage nature has caused, just so much mortar crumbling out of all the joints here," Humphries said.

Anything breakable was removed from inside the monument's base, while outside it stayed wrapped in a steel cocoon for most of this year.

Not even the mayor could get too close.

"I'm looking forward to the big reveal," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

The reveal is finally happening with the scaffolding gone from around the column, freshly cleaned stones shine brighter and tighter.

"Every stone has been repointed to keep water out of the building," Humphries said.

Later this week the last of the scaffolding will come down, meaning an important deadline will be met.

The annual holiday lighting of the monument will go on as usual, including fireworks.

And expect more of the same next Fourth of July, when Baltimore will re-dedicate its tribute to George Washington on the monument's bicentennial.

Interior work on the monument will continue into next spring. The $5.5 million in repairs was organized by the Mt. Vernon Place Conservancy.

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