Norton, Concerned About Closing of the Washington Monument, Will Meet with NPS Officials about Dysfunctional Elevator

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said she was so concerned about mechanical problems with the Washington Monument's main elevator that have reemerged again during tourist season that she will meet with National Park Service (NPS) officials when the elevator is fixed to discuss the long-term condition of the elevator and what steps can be taken to reduce and eliminate breakdowns in the future. NPS has closed the Monument to visitors until Thursday, June 4.

"The Washington Monument's elevator is essential to the Monument itself, serving over 2,400 visitors each day, who come to experience our city's best view," Norton said. "Elevator outages during the peak tourist season render the Washington Monument off limits. NPS has told me that the problem is suspected to have been caused by numerous shutdowns of the elevator due to power outages, but this newly refurbished elevator began to malfunction almost as soon as the Monument reopened a year ago. The elevator takes a tremendous toll every day, logging 13 hours a day, seven days a week. I am asking NPS officials to look beyond the power outages, an obvious troubling factor, and propose solutions for preventing further elevator malfunctions."