The National Park Service has announced repairs to modernize the elevator system inside the Washington Monument will keep the monument closed until 2019.

FILE: The Washington Monument against a cloudless blue sky on Saturday, November 5, 2016. (Jake West)

The $2-3 million project is being funded by philanthropist David M. Rubenstein. Ongoing issues with the elevator’s mechanical, electrical, and computer issues have kept the monument closed to the public since August 17. A National Park Service statement released Friday calls Rubenstein “a leader in the incredible legacy of private support for national parks” as he has given more than $49 million for 6 previous projects since January 2012.

Rubenstein’s previous donations include:

January 2012 – $7.5 million to restore the Washington Monument after the earthquake

July 2014 – $12.35 million to restore Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial

September 2014 – $5 million endowment for the White House Visitor Center

April 2015 – $5.37 million to improve the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial

February 2016 – $18.5 million to restore the Lincoln Memorial

April 2016 – $1 million to fund critical repairs to Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument