Going Down
Critics say the National Park Service's plans for the Washington Monument have reached new depths. Here's a groundbreaking idea: Keep piling on the dirt.
Cover Story
How much can you teach to an elevator full of people in roughly 70 seconds? The Washington Monument's knowledgeable guides provide the answer more than 50 times a day: nothing.
Nevertheless, they keep trying. Thanks to the elevator ride, day after day, year after year, millions of visitors to the monument receive two brief lessons on the obelisk's history—an ascending and a descending version.
On the way up, tourists get the basics, which include the monument's height—555 feet—date of completion—1888—and number of steps—896.
On the trip down, the elevator slows to give viewers two predetermined peeks of the monument's interior, as revealed through the translucent panels on either side of the elevator. Compared with its bland exterior, the inside of the Washington Monument displays a bowl of visual candy: 193 memorial stones honoring George Washington decorate the walls. During the elevator fly-by, the stones rush together in a geologic blur.
So it has gone for decades: With fast-talking delivery worthy of an auctioneer, the guides, National Park Service rangers, have attempted to present all the fun facts about the monument in the span of a commercial break.
Now they want more time with their
customers. ... Continued 
Issue of Feb. 21 - 27, 2003
News and Features
- Going Down
Cover Story - Doggie Treats
Feature - Get the "Fuck" Out
The City - 5537 Jay St. NE
The City - A Clean Sweep for Southeast
The City - Accelerate Your Death
The Mail - Whine Spectator
The Mail - Bike Hikes
The Mail
Columns
- Ken and Arby's
Cheap Seats - The Court of Public Fiction
Dept. of Media - Snow Mobile
City Desk - Freezer Burn
City Desk - Mister Robinson's Neighborhood
Loose Lips
Eats
Movies
- Lost for Life
Film Review - Dark Blue
Film Review - Old School
Film Review - The Guru
Film Review - Gods and Generals
Film Review
Music
- Life and Limbs
Acts Locally - The Weird Ole Opry
Music Review - Lost Planets & Phantom Voices
Music Review - Loose Fur
Music Review - Landlocked
Music Review - The Life & Times of Laddio Bolocko
Music Review - Summerteeth
Music Review - Operation: Doomsday
Music Review - Electric Sweat
Music Review - Seven More Minutes
Music Review - At Dawn
Music Review
Theater
- Dancing Days Are Here Again
Theater Review - Killing 'Em Softly
Theater Review - Endgame
Theater Review
Arts and Events
- 'Grave Concerns
Arts - Past Imperfect
Art Review - Shoe Polish
Artifacts - Urban Legend
Artifacts
City Lights
This week's best in Arts and Entertainment.
- African American Film Feast
City Lights - Mission of Burma
City Lights - D.C. Annual Reggae Music Awards
City Lights - Robert Wilson
City Lights - Cuba Now!
City Lights - Cinema as Trompe L'Oeil
City Lights - William Hooker
City Lights - Hidden Hand
City Lights - Ludacris
City Lights - Nana
City Lights - Tracheotomy: The Last Resort
City Lights - The Reckless Moment
City Lights - Coleman Barks
City Lights - Takacs Quartet
City Lights
Find an Event
Select the type of event, and the particular day this week below.
Submit your event to the City Paper's Event Calendar.
Find a Restaurant
Enter a restaurant name, or select a cuisine and neighborhood below.
Find a Movie
Select a movie theater in the box below to see a list of all movies at that theater.
...Or view a full list of theaters, films, and showtimes.
Search Classified Ads
Post a Classified Ad
Search inventory on the City Paper's CarTango website:
This Week in
City Paper History
- Exit Strategy
Nov. 26 - Dec. 2, 1999 - Midget Wrestling
Nov. 26 - Dec. 2, 1999 - Soulsby on Ice
Nov. 28 - Dec. 4, 1997
