Excerpt:
The ornate tomb of James Monroe in Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery will undergo a yearlong restoration intended to preserve its iron canopy, known as the “Birdcage,” in the hopes of restoring its original color.
The tomb of America’s fifth president will be taken apart starting this week, according to the state Department of General Services, which announced the $900,000 repair project Tuesday morning. The canopy will be disassembled and removed, while the granite sarcophagus will remain in place.
The work, expected to be completed by next September, is being timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Monroe’s election as president in 1817.