Restoration Progress

History

Spurred by the centennial of the founding of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association in 1910, our restoration work at the Memorial began in 2009.

2009

• Memorial Conditions Assessment Report completed
• Founders Hall exhibit installed
• Grand Masonic Hall air conditioned
• Disability Ramp installed - South Lodge Room
• Security Fencing installed - South Parking Lot
• Security/Safety Railing Observation Deck painted
• Etched Glass panels installed in Grand Masonic Hall
• Elevator landings at the first level removed and elevators lowered to first floor
• New Memorial crest created
• Lead channel weather guard installed on exterior corners of Memorial tower Phase One
• Exterior Wiring and Lighting Phase One Replacement - 5th and 7th levels
• Disability Ramp installed Memorial Hall
• North Lodge Ante Room/Upper Stage Rooms - Repaired and Painted
• Marble and Granite Flooring installed in North Lodge Ante Rooms

2010

• Built on Freedom DVD created
• Centennial portrait of George Washington commissioned
• Tower elevators upgraded to self-service
• White House Stones Exhibit installed
• Digitization Computer/Server installed
• Movable Disability Ramps installed Grand Masonic Hall
• Audio-Visual Control Room for Theater constructed
• Marble and Granite Flooring installed in South Lodge Ante Rooms
• Mosaic Pavement installed in South Lodge Room
• New Furniture installed South Lodge Ante Room
• Electric Outlets installed North and South first floor hallways

2011

• Exterior Delivery Ramp installed Kitchen Entrance
• Third Level Murals removed and placed in storage
• Third Level demolition and construction completed for Family of Freemasonry Exhibit
• Third Level exterior windows replaced
• Third Level Restrooms repaired and painted
• Third Level Air Conditioners/Heat Pumps installed
• Comprehensive long term electrical upgrade to more efficient fixtures and bulbs initiated
• Digital IP Telephone System installed
• Updated panels for Memorial Displays
• Moved electric control from circuit breakers to switches near elevators 4th, 5th, 7th Levels
• Theater Stage Steps (movable) constructed and installed
• Boilers in Heating Plant replaced

2012

• South Entrance - Delivery Ramp installed
• Family of Freemasonry Exhibit opened
• Front Entrance Sidewalls - Cleaned, Grind out mortar joints and re-mortared
• with lime based mortar
• Front Entrance Columns and Portico - Power wash and clean
• First Level Exterior Ledge and Coping - Cleaned, Grind out mortar joints and re-mortared with lime based mortar
• 3rd, 5th, & 7th Tower Levels - parapet wall, wall coping and window ledges - Cleaned, Grind out mortar joints, re-mortared with lime based mortar and install lead weather caps
• 9th Tower Level - Observation Deck - Removed existing exhibit and cases. Installed new flooring, pilaster capitals and exterior doors, casing and trim
• South Entrance Landing and Steps - Cleaned, resealed and re-caulked
• Memorial Hall Welcome Station - Constructed and installed
• George Washington Portrait (Theater) - Raising Mechanism installed
• Memorial Server upgraded
• Memorial Banner - Designed and fabricated
• Memorial Hall Ceiling Alcove - West End - Cleaned, painted and Gold Leaf installed
• Theater Ramps Extended and Interior Doors Swing reversed
• 9th Tower Level Exterior Electric Wiring replaced
• 11th Tower Level - Pyramid Level - Remove speakers, clean drain channels and remove 2,000 pounds of bird waste
• 11th Tower Level - Repair and replace louvers, install waterproof membrane, re-grout and reseal stonework, install lead weather caps
• 9th Tower Level - Created and installed new Memorial Construction Exhibit
• Shrine Exhibits Removed from 1st Level North Rooms
• Shrine Exhibit Rooms cleaned, repaired, painted and new carpet installed
• Carpet on North Lodge Stage stretched and re-glued
• Computer Equipment Room Constructed, Server and all equipment moved
• Gift Shop expanded and moved to Northwest Room - 1st floor adjacent to North Entrance
• Conference Room created on first floor
• CCTV Security System Expanded to Gift Shop, Conference Room, North/South Entrances and
• Grand opening of Family of Freemasonry Exhibit
• North Entrance Alcove and entrance hallways - repaired and painted

2013

• Re-controlled the steam heating air handler and 2 cooling fan coils with a digital programmable T-stat for more efficient heating and cooling Gift Shop
• Added 9 cameras and 3 power supplies for CCTV Security Monitoring and Recording System
• Prepared, Primed, Painted and applied Gold Leaf to East Portico/Main Entrance Fence
• Designed & Constructed two (2) portable ramps for Memorial Hall
• Remove and re-mortar stone joints at Main Entrance Terrace
• Fifth Floor re-configured and equipped for processing museum artifacts
• Youth Groups and York Exhibits added to Family of Freemasonry Exhibit
• Excavate perimeter of southeast retaining wall to establish reasons for movement of the wall
• Remove, re-mortar and install lead weather cap - southeast quadrant of the second level main roof parapet
• Remove, re-mortar and install lead weather cap - east section second level parapet adjacent to portico roof
• Purchase Lead weather cap for 2nd level main roof parapet
• George Washington Bust commissioned and produced
• Drainage System for the 1st level terrace around the Memorial replaced, terrace re-graded and seeded
• Exterior Light Poles and Fixtures to illuminate East Entrance and Facade installed

2014

• Fabrication and installation of (2) pedestrian ramps in Memorial Hall
• Fabrication and installation of pedestrian ramp from Memorial Hall to South Hallway
• Removal of four (4) murals from the 7th level of the Memorial Tower
• Memorial Theater, Conference Room and Gift Shop - Replace Curtains and Blinds
• Heating Plant Parapet - Re-mortar and install Lead Weathercap
• Ladies Restroom Renovation
• Heating Plant -Prepare, prime and paint interior and exterior
• First Floor Halls, Dining Room and Stairwells of the Memorial
• Repair, prime and paint interior walls and ceiling
• Water Main Hydrant Replacement
• Southeast corner below terrace wall surrounding the Memorial.
• Security System - Upgrade and Expansion
• Renovation of Staff Break Room
• Steam Tunnel Repairs, Restoration and Upgrades
• Water Main Rupture and Replacement

2015

• Remove and re-mortar stone joints at the pyramid on top of the Memorial
• Memorial Hall - Install Handicap ramp at North Elevator
• Grand Masonic Hall - Fabrication and installation of (3) Handicap ramps
• South Lodge Room Lodge Candidate Preparation Room - Repair and Paint
• South Lodge Room Lodge Office and Restroom - Repair and Paint
• South Lodge Room - Repair, Paint and install LED Lighting System
• North Lodge Room - Repair and Paint
• Northeast Stairwell - Repair and Paint
• Southeast Stairwell - Repair and Paint
• Fabricate and install 100 aluminum louvers in Tower Pyramid
• Repair and re-mortar exterior stone joints and clean exterior of Tower Pyramid
• Install Emergency Generator for Memorial Building
• Fabricate and Install Fencing around Emergency Generator
• Rebuild and Upgrade Wooden Handicap Ramp at the North Entrance
• Repair and Paint Grand Masonic Hall

2016

• Memorial Hall, North & South Hallways - Provide and Install Bronze Hand Rails
• Complete re-mortaring and weather cap installation on 7th & 8th floors