Washington Monument reopens after 3-year closure for repairs

After a three-year closure, the Washington Monument is reopening to the public.

The 555-foot stone obelisk was closed in September 2016 in order to replace the aging elevator and upgrade security systems. The monument will reopen to the public at noon Thursday, and first lady Melania Trump is expected to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"We're just excited to open it again," said National Park Service Spokesman Mike Litterst, during a Wednesday tour of the site.

"The views from up here are like nothing else." The monument has been closed for most of the past eight years. An August 2011 earthquake left cracks in the stones near the top of the obelisk. It reopened in 2014, but Park