The Washington Monument will be closed and tours suspended Monday until after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, following riots at the U.S. Capitol last week.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to a notice from Jeffrey P. Reinbold, superintendent of the\u00a0National Mall and Memorial Parks, the monument will be closed through Jan. 24. The monument is located on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall, which typically hosts inaugural crowds. “Groups involved in the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol continue to threaten to disrupt the 59th\u00a0presidential inauguration on January 20, 2021,” Reinbold wrote.\u00a0“This includes the set up and execution of inaugural events, which occur in several park areas.”<\/p>\n
The National Parks Service, which operates\u00a0the National Mall and Memorial Parks, may also temporarily close roadways, parking lots and restrooms “if conditions warrant, to protect public safety and park resources.”<\/p>\n
“These temporary closures are based upon a determination, in consultation with the local authorities, that such actions are necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety,”\u00a0Reinbold wrote, noting the closures may be extended.\u00a0<\/p>\n