At 1:51pm on Tuesday, August 23, Meridian was taken by surprise as a 5.9 magnitude earthquake rocked the national capital region. Meridian House and White-Meyer House, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designed by the renowned American architect John Russell Pope, have stood the test of time and Mother Nature. Though our two historic buildings remain structurally sound, they did sustain some damage, closing our campus for two days in order to thoroughly assess the effects of the strongest seismic event in this area since 1944.

Now reopened, Meridian will be taking this newest challenge as an opportunity for improvement. We aim to not only make the necessary repairs to our century old campus, but also increase the long-term security of the structures. As we return to our offices and the East Coast recovers from Hurricane Irene, there is no better time than the present to preserve our history and protect these noted landmarks for the continued exchange of people, ideas, and culture, and for future generations of the world’s "movers and shakers."

To be a part of strengthening the foundations of our organization for the years to come, please visit the Support Meridian page and select "Historic Preservation" as the funding designation when making a donation.