Washington National Cathedral Chosen to Compete for $100,000 Earthquake Restoration Grant

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Washington National Cathedral has been selected as one of 25 historic places in the D.C. region to compete in a community-based initiative awarding $1 million in grants for preservation projects.

The Cathedral seeks a top grant of $100,000 to help fund necessary inspections and repair work on its 100 foot–high vaulted ceiling, which was damaged in the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the region in August 2011.

The ceiling has been obscured since that time by dark nets along most of its one-tenth–mile length to catch any mortar and debris that might fall. The earthquake caused approximately $20 million in damage to the Cathedral, a non-profit institution that receives no direct federal or national church funding for its operations; just over $9 million has been raised to date.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced today that this annual program sponsored by American Express, known as “Partners in Preservation,” will take place in Washington, D.C.

The national capital region is the eighth metropolitan area to be selected to take part in an online competition, which rewards heavy social media activity by the supporters of participating sites.

The public is invited to help the Cathedral by voting online and via mobile device once per day, every day, until the voting period ends on May 10.

Extra points will be awarded for registered individuals who check in at Washington National Cathedral on Foursquare or use the #wncathedral hashtag on Twitter or Instagram. The site that receives the highest number of points before the voting period ends is guaranteed to receive grant funding, although an advisory committee appointed by the National Trust will also determine additional awards.

A Partners in Preservation Open House Weekend, May 3–5, will help to share information about the preservation needs of participating sites. On Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4, Cathedral volunteers will staff an information table at the 74th annual Flower Mart sponsored by All Hallows Guild, considered Washington’s premier spring outdoor family festival.

On Sunday, May 5, at 10:10 am and webcast live, the Cathedral will present a forum discussion with its head stone mason Joe Alonso (joined by colleagues Andrew Hullinger and Jim Shepherd) about the progress of the Cathedral’s restoration from the August 2011 earthquake. The community is invited to hear from Alonso about the latest inspections of the Cathedral’s flying buttresses along the apse, as well as details of how rolling scaffolding would be erected more than 90 feet high to inspect the vaulted ceiling.

“Inspecting every joint in the nave vaulting 100 feet up will be a painstaking task. Until then, the black netting inside the Cathedral blocks some of the interior’s most significant architectural details and views of its magnificent windows,” said Alonso. “By voting for the National Cathedral, the public can help bring the full glory of light back into this sacred space for our country.”

Visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation's website to vote for the Washington National Cathedral.