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Little-Known Area Of The Lincoln Memorial Could Be Opened To The Public

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Published Date

July 1, 2017

The Lincoln Memorial could be getting some upgrades before the 100th anniversary of its dedication in 2022/NPS

With the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Memorial’s dedication coming up in 2022, the National Park Service has proposed upgrades that would allow people to view a little-known area below the memorial known as the undercroft and improve visitor services at the often-congested site in time for a centennial celebration.

In the undercroft, visitors would be able to view the foundations that anchor the memorial to the bedrock and see the graffiti of the construction workers who built it in the early 20th century. Opening the cathedral-like space also would help relieve pressure on overcrowded areas of the monument. The project also would address outdated restrooms, add a second elevator to the memorial chamber while improving the current one, move and expand the museum store, and add exhibits and classrooms.

Comments are being accepted on the project through July 10.

“The project would provide a new experience to visitors at one of the most heavily visited sites on the National Mall and would allow the park to tell new and expanded stories related to the memorial and its construction, while respecting of the historic character and intended solemnity of the memorial,” Gay Vietzke, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, wrote in a letter that outlines the proposal.

The Lincoln Memorial commemorates Abraham Lincoln, one of the most-venerated presidents in American history. Designed by architect Henry Bacon and constructed between 1914 and 1922, the memorial takes the form of a Greek temple and features a portrait sculpture of the Great Emancipator by Daniel Chester French. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

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