It’s not only the inside of the Washington Monument that’s getting an upgrade.
Just a day after the Washington Monument reopened to the public, the National Park Service announced Friday that the 555-foot tall obelisk’s exterior lighting is getting a boost that should make nighttime viewing even more impressive.
The NPS has partnered with Musco Lighting to more evenly and uniformly distribute light across the Egyptian-inspired monument. That means the pyramidion at the top is going to be a lot brighter.
According to a news release, the new lighting utilizes LED light source technology, which can achieve better precision and control, directing more of the available light onto the monument’s surface and spilling less around it.
“Musco Lighting’s generous donation illuminates the newly reopened Washington Monument with the brilliance befitting one of our nation’s most iconic memorials,” said Jeff Reinbold, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, in the release. “We are grateful to Musco for not only providing their expertise and equipment to more evenly and thoroughly light the monument, but also for doing so in a far more efficient manner than the previous system.”
The new lights also use less energy.
“Our team is pleased to work with the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation to light this historic monument,” said Joe Crookham, president of Musco Lighting. “We hope this will create a more enjoyable and memorable viewing experience for many years to come, while also saving energy and being responsible to the environment and night sky.”
The Washington Monument reopened Thursday after three years of renovation work. It has a repaired elevator and a new security screening center. First lady Melania Trump participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate.
The popular D.C. attraction had been closed to visitors since August 2016, when it was shut down by elevator problems.
Tickets for tours through Oct. 18 are available at the Washington Monument lodge on 15th Street. Tickets for tours on Oct. 19 and after can be booked online starting Oct. 10 at 10 a.m.
The monument is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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WTOP’s Valerie Bonk and John Domen contributed to this report. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.
