National Park Service
Opening June 25: A new experience awaits underneath one of America's most famous monuments.
Just in time for America's 250th, the Lincoln Memorial is inviting visitors to experience its story in a whole new way. This summer, the National Park Service opens a century-old secret to the public for the first time – 15,000 square feet of immersive exhibits right beneath the memorial.
Another first: original signed copies of both the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment will be on display together, housed beneath the president who made them law. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stand in the presence of the documents that reshaped America.
Did you know that the space beneath the memorial is larger than the visible space above? It's a tall grid of concrete columns surrounded by large expanses of open space, now filled with world-class exhibits for the first time in the memorial's 100-year history.
Thanks to more than $45 million in public and private funding – led by donors including David M. Rubenstein, Kenneth C. Griffin and The History Channel – floor-to-ceiling glass walls will provide a dramatic view of the undercroft and an immersive theater presentation will project images of historic events onto the foundations themselves.
National Park Service
Its 15,000-square-foot exhibit space will give visitors the opportunity to get up close to replicas of the statue and other aspects of the memorial, examining the symbolism and meaning behind each. Exhibits will also trace the construction history of the memorial and explore how its meaning has evolved across generations. This summer, original signed copies of both the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment will be on display as well (on loan from philanthropist Kenneth C. Griffin).
National Park Service
The project also brings practical upgrades for visitors, including upgraded elevators, new restrooms and an expanded bookstore.
Timed-entry tickets are fee, but come with a $1 service fee per transaction. Advance tickets are available 30 days prior to visit on recreation.gov, or by calling 877‑444‑6777. Individuals may reserve up to six tickets per transaction.
Starting June 25, free, same-day tickets will be distributed daily beginning at 8:45 a.m. at the Korean War Veterans Memorial kiosk on Daniel Chester French Drive, just south of the Lincoln Memorial. Demand is expected to be high, especially on weekends and during peak periods, so be sure to reserve ahead.
For more information, visit nps.gov/linc or Recreation.gov.
Since its dedication in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial has stood as a symbol of unity, democracy and reflection. This summer, it continues to build on that mission from the ground up.
