After repairs to some 150 cracks inflicted by an earthquake, the Washington Monument is scheduled to reopen to the public in May./Stephen Brown

Having endured, and survived, an earthquake, the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to open to the public for the first time in nearly three years on May 12.

The remaining scaffolding surrounding the Monument is scheduled to come down this week in preparation for the icon's re-opening. It has been closed since a 5.8 magnitude earthquake rocked it, and cracked it in more than 100 places, on August 23, 2011 -- a span of 32 months. The National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall will host a re-opening ceremony at 10 a.m. that morning; details of the ceremony will be forthcoming.

Public tours of the Monument on the day of the reopening will begin at 1 p.m. Tickets will be available on a first come-first served basis starting at 8:30 a.m. that day at the Washington Monument Lodge, located on 15th Street, between Madison and Jefferson Drives. Tickets for tours on May 13 and all future dates will be available on the NPS reservation page, www.recreation.gov, starting on April 16, at 10 a.m.

'œWe are delighted to be in the homestretch with the repairs to the Washington Monument almost complete, and we look forward to the re-opening on May 12 so we can once again welcome visitors to this iconic monument to our nation'™s first president,' said Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis in a press release.

'œWe are grateful for David Rubenstein'™s generous donation that funded half of the $15 million repair bill," the director added. "David'™s support of the national parks and the work of the National Park Service sets a high standard for park philanthropy nationwide and is appreciated by every visitor who will learn something about President Washington or simply enjoy the view from the top.'

'œThe National Park Service has done a spectacular job of repairing the monument, and I hope as many people as possible will soon be able to see the unique view from the top,' said philanthropist David M. Rubenstein.

Mr. Rubenstein donated $7.5 million to the monument'™s restoration via the Trust for the National Mall, matching the public funds allocated by Congress.

'œWe are grateful for Mr. Rubenstein'™s generosity and the National Park Service'™s diligent work. Thanks to this successful public-private partnership, visitors can once again experience the full grandeur and history of the National Mall,' said Caroline Cunningham, president of the Trust for the National Mall.

Because of the closure of the Monument, the National Park Service will begin extended operating hours on May 12. The Monument will be open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. until the end of summer.