Monumental Project in Washington, D.C.

Although heavy scaffolding rings the Jefferson Memorial and fences encircle the Lincoln Memorial, sightseers may still walk through both monuments, which top the list of must-sees for most tourists in Washington.

The equipment is in place for an ongoing 10-year, $23-million preservation project that includes inspections and repair of both structures. This is the first time any significant work has been done on the monuments since they were dedicated--the Lincoln in 1922, the Jefferson in 1943.

Although some interior structural work has been completed at both sites, the scaffolding is primarily being used by specialists in fields such as stone work, marble erosion, architecture, weathering and entomology, who are documenting the pace of deterioration and determining what needs to be done to preserve the memorials, said National Park Service spokesman Earle Kittleman. Preliminary studies had recommended tests to assess and repair damage caused by acid rain, insects, jet fuel and other factors.

In addition, both structures are being meticulously measured and drawn by computer. At the Jefferson Memorial (pictured at left), movement-sensitive instruments have been placed in the dome to measure shifting of the monument.

To accommodate visitors, the fences and scaffolding have to be moved constantly, depending on where the work is being done, which makes the whole project more expensive and time consuming than it would otherwise be, Kittleman said. Work is expected to continue for another four or five years, he said.

Visitors to the Lincoln Memorial may also want to stop by a new visitors center in what was once a dim basement and is now a mini-museum. The center was conceived, designed and partly paid for by high school students and includes 13 massive tablets of black Tennessee marble carved with Lincoln quotations. A mini-theater features photographs and film clips from some of the hundreds of protests and ceremonies that have occurred at the memorial.

Met Reopens All Galleries

Thanks to an infusion of funds from the city and state of New York and a healthy donation from a patron, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has reopened all of its galleries on a full-time basis. In 1991, the Met limited access to nearly half of its gallery space, during half of its operating hours, because of funding cuts imposed by New York City during its fiscal crisis. The new public grants totaling $421,000 and matching donations will enable the museum to reopen its galleries full time through August, 1995.

Beefing Up Security in China

China plans to improve the safety and security of its tourist sites to counter a rise in crime and accidents that have cost the lives of dozens of tourists in the past year.

China’s many tourist attractions drew about 21 million overseas visitors in the first half of this year and the country’s tourist industry has grown at a 13% annual rate over the past eight years, the highest tourism growth rate worldwide. Although most tourists travel through China without incident, the flood of sightseers has led to rising crime, accidents and inadequate public facilities.

According to the official newspaper, China Daily, the government plans to establish new regulations to ensure safe operation of China’s hotels, travel services, boats and ships. It also plans to train more security and tourism service personnel.

Here Comes the Disney Bride

Walt Disney World in Florida intends to make fairy-tale weddings come true, beginning next fall.

That’s when the masters of happily-ever-afters plan to complete the multimillion-dollar Fairy Tale Wedding Pavilion, a glass-enclosed Victorian summer house, built on an island in Seven Seas Lagoon with a view of Cinderella’s Castle.

About 50 couples a month now tie the knot in the Magic Kingdom, a spokeswoman said. The new pavilion, south of the Great Floridian Resort, will accommodate parties from two to 250 and house Franck’s, a re-creation of the chi-chi wedding studio from the movie “Father of the Bride.”

At Franck’s, Disney experts will help brides-to-be select everything from music and flowers to a fantasy reception with Disney themes, such as the ultimate Cinderella’s Ball, where the bride arrives in a glass carriage drawn by six white ponies, a costumed fairy godmother and stepsisters mingle with guests, and dessert is served in a white chocolate slipper.

Also in the works: The Disney Institute, a re-creation of a quaint arts community and lakeside campus, with recital hall, classrooms, amphitheater and spa and fitness center, is set to open in the fall of 1995. Disney plans to offer a new all-inclusive learning vacation aimed at families with teens.

Fever Rages in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is grappling with the biggest epidemic of dengue fever the island has seen in 25 years. Though about 15,000 cases of the mosquito-borne disease--which causes high fever, headache, joint pain and rash, but is rarely fatal--have occurred already this year, both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the island’s health department stress that risk to travelers in tourist zones is small. Health authorities and hotels are working to control the mosquitoes. There is no vaccine against the disease, but bites can be prevented with use of insect repellents containing DEET or permethrin.