National Cathedral wins preservation funds contest

BRETT ZONGKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington National Cathedral and George Washington's Mount Vernon estate each won $100,000 grants Monday, among 24 sites around the nation's capital competing for historic preservation funds.

The earthquake-damaged National Cathedral won the most votes from the public over the past three weeks, earning nearly 1.4 million points in the Partners in Preservation program. The National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express announced the winners, awarding $1 million in preservation funds to sites in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

The cathedral will use the funds to repair its nave vaulting, which has been draped with netting to catch falling debris since the 2011 earthquake.

"We are overjoyed by this vote of support for our restoration efforts," said the very Rev. Gary Hall, dean of the cathedral. "This money will be put to good use restoring this incredible structure."

Mount Vernon won $100,000 to paint, plaster and restore Washington's dining room at his Virginia home. Eleven other sites also won grants ranging from $50,000 to $90,000. Those receiving preservation grants were:

— All Souls Church Unitarian, Washington: $50,000 to repair historic bell tower.

— Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, Washington: $75,000 to rebuild front and rear facade for public access.

— Colvin Run Mill, Great Falls, Va.: $75,000 to bring the 18th century grain elevator into working order.

— Congressional Cemetery, Washington: $50,000 to replace and reconstruct a row of 26 mausoleum vault roofs.

— Dumbarton Oaks Park, Washington: $50,000 repair garden's original built structures.

— The GALA Hispanic Theatre at The Tivoli, Washington: $35,000 to restore three ornate interior domes.

— Greenbelt Theatre, Greenbelt, Md.: $75,000 to renovate art deco lobby.

— LAMB at Military Road School, Washington: $60,000 to repair exterior of school building.

— Meridian Hill Park, Washington: $50,000 to stabilize and repair exposed aggregate concrete grotto.

— Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, Washington: $90,000 to restore stained glass windows on church's primary facade.

— Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, Washington: $75,000 to repair and preserve a dozen of the Synagogue's stained glass windows.