The sun peeks through the scaffolding around the Washington Monument at dawn in Washington, Monday, March 24, 2014. The National Park Service has announced they will reopen the earthquake damaged structure in May. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)The National Park Service says the Washington Monument will reopen to visitors May 12 after being closed for nearly three years due to a 2011 earthquake.
The park service says the remaining scaffolding around the monument will begin to come down this week.
Park officials say tours will begin May 12 at 1 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets for tours May 13 and beyond can be reserved online beginning April 16.
The monument will be open extended hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. through the summer.
The Washington Monument has been closed for 32 months since being damaged during a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in 2011. Workers have repaired more than 150 cracks in the stone structure. The repair project cost $15 million.