Engineers Climb Washington Monument

September 30, 2011 Updated: October 1, 2015
An engineer begins the process of conducting a block-by-block inspection of the exterior of the Washington Monument while suspended by ropes on Sept. 27, in Washington, D.C. The National Park Service has closed the landmark in the nation's capital indefinitely due to damage caused by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in August. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
An engineer begins the process of conducting a block-by-block inspection of the exterior of the Washington Monument while suspended by ropes on Sept. 27, in Washington, D.C. The National Park Service has closed the landmark in the nation's capital indefinitely due to damage caused by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in August. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)