Efforts to restore the 187-year-old flag began May 28, 1999, and are expected to last 3 years. The conservation of the flag, which measures 30 feet by 34 feet, is taking place in public view within a glass-walled laboratory.
The fume extraction arms are attached to a moveable gantry inside the lab. The arms keep the air free of contaminants, and they help maintain a steady temperature and relative humidity.