The Washington Monument Aglow on the National Mall
On July 8, 2013 the National Park Service (NPS) held a special lighting ceremony at the Washington Monument. High-level officials including NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis, philanthropist David Rubenstein who donated $7.5 million to fund half the project, National Mall Superintendent Robert Vogel and Trust for the National Mall President Caroline Cunningham, spoke at the event. There was extensive media coverage of the event. Hundreds of spectators turned out for the ceremony.