DC Metrocentric

The National Park Service released a year long study today showing that parts of the Jefferson Memorial are sinking! It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise due to the entire area being built back in the 1930s on what was basically just marshland.

The biggest problem is that the sea wall along the base of the memorial has sunk up to a foot in some places (pictured)  and the study shows that the rate is only going to increase over the years. The Washington Post is reporting that there doesn’t seem to be any easy fixes, and a complete piling reinforcement could cost over $10 million bucks. The last time any reinforcement was done was back in the 60s so the memorial is due for some work. Plus all the flooding this week probably didn’t help the situation either. [Photo: Bill O’Leary -WP]