National Cathedral

Stonemasons are redoing some work on the Washington National Cathedral, which was damaged when a 5.8 earthquake struck the East Coast on Aug. 23, 2011.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Joe Alonso says that when he was first assessing the earthquake damage, he was afraid to touch parts of the building for fear it might fall down.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Reconstruction is underway on the National Cathedral center tower, which stands 30 stories high.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The Episcopal cathedral in Washington draws tourists as well as worshipers and dignitaries.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Scaffolding can be seen on the cathedral Nov. 12, 2011, before the consecration service for Mariann Edgar Budde, Washington’s first female bishop. It was the first event at the cathedral after it was damaged by an earthquake that August.  (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)

Damage to the Washington National Cathedral is examined Aug. 25, 2011, the day after a 5.8 earthquake shook much of the East Coast.  (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

A broken limestone angel lies on the roof of the National Cathedral the day after a rare earthquake struck the East Coast on Aug. 23, 2011.  (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)