As Notre Dame burned on Monday, the universal significance of the cathedral drew outpourings of support. As the ashes settled, hundreds of millions of dollars were quickly pledged for repairs to rebuild the iconic Parisian landmark.

But Notre Dame needed funding for repairs even before her roof and towering spire collapsed in flames. Limestone crumbled to the touch, the roof needed extensive repairs, the flying buttresses supporting the heavy stone façade were far from stable, having eroded over the centuries. Before it went up in flames, finding the money to fix the cathedral was far from an easy task. Bureaucratic questions of responsibility and a reliance on public appeals to raise funds led to delays in repairs and left the building more vulnerable.