Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Opens to Public

The U.S. Department of the Interior has unveiled a hidden gem beneath the Lincoln Memorial. This century-old secret, the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft, is now accessible to the public starting Thursday. Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., visitors can explore this newly revealed 15,000-square-foot museum for free, with advance reservations.

For a century, this structural chamber sat empty, likened to a silent ‘two-story shopping mall’ supported by 122 massive concrete pillars. The project finally came to fruition after a decade of planning, funded by $26 million in federal support and $48 million from the National Park Foundation. Julie Moore, vice president of communications with the Trust for the National Mall, confirmed that construction began in 2023.

A noteworthy attraction within this space is a glass-encased exhibit area situated directly under Abraham Lincoln’s statue. The museum features a range of interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and a bookstore. Of particular interest are the original copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, both bearing Lincoln’s signature, as highlighted by the Department of the Interior.

In addition to its curated exhibitions, visitors can see original construction tools and graffiti from the 1920s workers, offering a unique insight into the memorial’s historical construction process. Beyond its structural intrigue, the undercroft narrates the evolution of the Lincoln Memorial as a significant civic space. It documents its pivotal role in civil rights history, marking events like Marian Anderson’s 1939 concert and the March on Washington.

For those looking to visit, advance reservations are available via recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Visitors can book reservations up to 30 days in advance. Alternatively, walk-up tickets are offered daily on a first-come, first-served basis at 8:45 a.m. local time near the Korean War Veterans Memorial kiosk.