On Call with National Mall Superintendent, Norton Learns of Steps to Solve Chronic Washington Monument Elevator Problems

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today called Superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks Gay Vietzke upon learning that the Washington Monument’s only elevator had broken down for the fifth time since it reopened in 2014 after extensive repairs to the structure and the elevator following earthquake damage. Norton said she was grateful to the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Park Police after all 18 visitors and a park ranger on the elevator, as well as 22 visitors and a park ranger on the observation level, were safely evacuated without incident. However, she expressed her concern that these frequent elevator breakdowns could have a particularly detrimental effect on, for example, visiting elderly groups, pregnant women, and those with disabilities, and that they and many others may be deterred from visiting the Monument if elevator breakdowns become synonymous with the iconic structure. Norton said she was reassured by Superintendent Vietzke’s belief that the elevator would be operating again very soon. Concerned that NPS had not gotten to the root of the problem even after several breakdowns, Norton asked Superintendent Vietzke if NPS was looking for deeper causes than had been previously discovered. Superintendent Vietzke responded that NPS is now looking at the mechanical system that controls the movements of the elevator. The control system is more than 20 years old and was not upgraded during the rehabilitation of the Monument and the elevator. Norton believes that even following the generous donation that funded the Monument’s rehabilitation, there may not have been enough funding to also upgrade the elevator control system. Fortunately, Superintendent Vietzke told Norton that the National Mall had applied for and secured internal NPS project grant funding to design a new elevator control system. Norton also urged Superintendent Vietzke to ensure that any necessary closures of the Monument to implement either the new elevator control system, or to construct a new glass security facility to replace the current temporary structure, do not occur during the tourist season.

“Today’s shutdown of the Washington Monument’s elevator in the middle of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the peak of the District’s tourist season, could not be more untimely,” Norton said. “Based on my conversation with Superintendent Vietzke, I believe that NPS has begun to understand that the problem goes well beyond the elevator itself, but also to other outdated features, such as the elevator control system. It is ironic that the repeated breakdowns have occurred after the elevator’s extensive rehabilitation. Securing reliable elevator service for the most important elevator in the nation’s capital, and the only elevator in the Washington Monument, must be a top priority for NPS.”