Millions of visitors climb the steps of the Lincoln Memorial each year. Beginning June 25, they’ll also be able to go beneath it.
The National Park Service is opening the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft, a new 15,000-square-foot exhibit. Visitors will be able to see the 122 pillars that support the monument, which have been closed to the public since the monument’s construction in 1922.
“The purpose of this memorial is to expose the entirety of Lincoln — who built it, what it took to build it, and what it looks like finished — in time for the 250th birthday of our country,” said Kevin Griess, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks.
The new museum contains artifacts, multimedia exhibits, and interactive displays to tell the story of the memorial construction and its historical significance. Among the items on display are signed copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, as well as a miniature replica of the chair used for the statue of Abraham Lincoln.
“This exhibit gives visitors the ability to touch the raw and unpolished parts of the monument that the working people put together,” said Griess.
Visitors can also learn about the workers who built the monument and view personal items, including a rendering of graffiti done on one of the pillars.
“It’s very fitting that on America’s 250 birthday, we remind ourselves of what it takes to do the things that we do,” said Griess. “We should celebrate the people that put this together — the ones that didn’t have a name, aren’t celebrated, and whose names aren’t etched in stone anywhere.”
The $69 million dollar project, announced in 2016 in partnership with the National Park Foundation, includes improved accessibility features, updated bathrooms, a refurbished elevator, and expanded bookstore.
“Whether you are aboveground or underground, the effort of this entire memorial has been to celebrate one of our greatest presidents and all his achievements,” said Griess.
Admission is free but timed-entry tickets with a $1 service fee per reservation are required. Reservations can be made online, or same-day tickets can be purchased at the Korean War Veterans Memorial kiosk.
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir., Washington, DC
Feature image by Emily Perez
