The moment magnitude (M_w) 5.8 Mineral, Virginia, earthquake of 23 August 2011, was centered ~130 km south-southwest of Washington, D.C. (USA), and caused minor damage across Virginia and the Washington metropolitan area. The Washington Monument sustained masonry damage; a post-earthquake survey of the monument performed for the National Park Service identified cracking and spalling of the pyramidion (the topmost piece of the obelisk), and cracking, spalling, and lesser damage over the entire length of the monument shaft. A seismic vulnerability assessment of the monument was then performed to evaluate the potential for damage to the monument from future...