It may not look too different, but some major changes under the skin of the Palace of Fine Arts have just been completed.
The nearly hundred-year-old dome has been reinforced for earthquakes, statues stabilized, landscaping improved, and a new pathway leads pedestrians through the ancient-looking columns, according to the Gate.
It was designed for a 1915 exposition to look like an ancient ruin, so the restoration project had a unique challenge: keeping the old look while ensuring its safety.
Originally, the Palace of Fine Arts was a flimsy plaster construction. Most of the exposition buildings were torn down within a year.
But the Hearst family loved the Palace of Fine Arts, and kept it up. After a few decades of slow deterioration, it was recast in concrete.
New problems emerged in recent years, however. The lagoon became dirty and there was a constant threat of statues falling from the top of the dome.
The city and state contributed $10 million to restoration starting in 2003. Another $11.3 million came from private fundraising.
The official unveiling of the revitalized property happens tomorrow, the 14th, at 10am.
Palace of Fine Arts Unveils Grand Restoration
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