Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In 2011, a 5.8 earthquake broke the Washington National Cathedral. Fifteen years later, master masons are still rebuilding it one hand-carved stone at a time.
I got to climb the scaffolding on the central tower with the crew resetting pinnacles hundreds of feet over DC, watch their masons carve replacement stones in the cathedral's own workshop, and then go inside.
đź“Ť CHAPTERS
0:00 The earthquake that broke the cathedral
2:28 On the central tower with the masons
6:23 Lifting a 20,000 lb pinnacle
9:49 Inside the cathedral's own carving workshop
15:21 The tombs: Woodrow Wilson's hidden symbols
19:38 Two bishops and an alabaster masterpiece
21:52 The slab in the floor, the only way into the crypt
23:26 The lowest chapel: Helen Keller's plaque
26:13 Matthew Shepard's story
27:23 What's really holding it all up
Want to learn more? Classes on cemetery conservation? How to clean, products used? Check the links below.
▬▬▬ Classes ▬▬▬
Cemetery Preservation Class bit.ly/4duNlis
How To Clean A Headstone bit.ly/3OBZXd1
How To Level A Lawn Marker bit.ly/494Hmyi
Products I'm Using bit.ly/3OehszL
▬▬▬ CONNECT WITH AND SUPPORT ME ▬▬▬
Help Support Conservation Efforts and Extra Content via Patreon bit.ly/3KiNZDn
▬▬▬ Follow Me On ▬▬▬
YouTube youtube.com/channel/UC4x-X3waV9Kcj0kuLdSGnxQ
Instagram instagram.com/millennialstonecleaner
TikTok tiktok.com/@millennialstonecleaner
Facebook facebook.com/millennialstonecleaner
#CemeteryConservation #historicpreservation #Iowa #FamilyHistory
In 2011, a 5.8 earthquake broke the Washington National Cathedral. Fifteen years later, master masons are still rebuilding it one hand-carved stone at a time.
I got to climb the scaffolding on the central tower with the crew resetting pinnacles hundreds of feet over DC, watch their masons carve replacement stones in the cathedral's own workshop, and then go inside.
đź“Ť CHAPTERS
0:00 The earthquake that broke the cathedral
2:28 On the central tower with the masons
6:23 Lifting a 20,000 lb pinnacle
9:49 Inside the cathedral's own carving workshop
15:21 The tombs: Woodrow Wilson's hidden symbols
19:38 Two bishops and an alabaster masterpiece
21:52 The slab in the floor, the only way into the crypt
23:26 The lowest chapel: Helen Keller's plaque
26:13 Matthew Shepard's story
27:23 What's really holding it all up
Want to learn more? Classes on cemetery conservation? How to clean, products used? Check the links below.
▬▬▬ Classes ▬▬▬
Cemetery Preservation Class bit.ly/4duNlis
How To Clean A Headstone bit.ly/3OBZXd1
How To Level A Lawn Marker bit.ly/494Hmyi
Products I'm Using bit.ly/3OehszL
▬▬▬ CONNECT WITH AND SUPPORT ME ▬▬▬
Help Support Conservation Efforts and Extra Content via Patreon bit.ly/3KiNZDn
▬▬▬ Follow Me On ▬▬▬
YouTube youtube.com/channel/UC4x-X3waV9Kcj0kuLdSGnxQ
Instagram instagram.com/millennialstonecleaner
TikTok tiktok.com/@millennialstonecleaner
Facebook facebook.com/millennialstonecleaner
#CemeteryConservation #historicpreservation #Iowa #FamilyHistory
