A Deeper Look at a Washington Icon

While the Washington Monument remains swathed in scaffolding, visitors there can visit a temporary exhibit that reviews George Washington’s life and the monument’s history and re-creates the view of D.C. from atop the tower.

The privately financed, $2-million Washington Monument Interpretive Center, at the corner of 15th Street and Constitution Avenue, was erected last month and will remain open until the restoration of the monument is finished next year--hopefully by Labor Day 2000, officials say. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. until next Saturday; then they will be 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.