National Cathedral completes first phase of restoration

The Washington National Cathedral has completed the first phase of much needed restoration work after the earthquake back in 2011. The Episcopal cathedral (located in Northwest Washington) is holding a news conference Wednesday to discuss details of the restoration work. The project was estimated to cost $32 million overall. Additional restoration work is expected to take years. Jim Shepherd, director of preservation and facilities at the cathedral, stated that an additional $22 million needs to be raised for the rest of the restoration work. He added that the first phase of restoration was focused on the inside, and that the next phase will focus on the outside. Construction of the church first began in 1907 and finished eighty-three years later in 1990. The cathedral is often the host for national events, such as presidential funerals.