WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Lincoln Memorial Undercroft opened to the public in June, unveiling a new museum within its 50,000-square-foot space beneath the Lincoln Memorial. The area, nearly twice the size of the memorial above, had never been accessible to visitors until this opening.
The Undercroft is supported by 120 massive concrete pillars that extend 50 feet into the ground to reach bedrock. Some of these columns still bear graffiti left by the original construction workers. Rainwater continues to seep through cracks in the granite above. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said, "They're still dripping. And of course, as the rainwater comes through cracks in the granite, it seeps down here, picks up calcium." He added, "There's a place to have current cultural debates. And then, there's a place to just tell and celebrate our history. We're not a nation without flaws, but we are a nation that was based on continuous improvement. And we may have 'over-rotated' towards a point of some kind of massive self-criticism, 'cause maybe it was expedient, politically, in the short term. It's important, when we're using federal dollars, that we tell the story that celebrates this country."
The new museum explores the history of the Lincoln Memorial and its role in the civil rights movement. In 1939, contralto Marian Anderson performed at the memorial after being barred from indoor venues in Washington, D.C., due to Whites-only policies. The site later became the setting for a major civil rights address in 1963.
Philanthropist David Rubenstein donated a quarter of the $69 million required to transform the space into a museum. "You can't really be a great country if you don't really honor your history and understand your history," Rubenstein said. He also described Lincoln’s personal challenges, saying, "He had a very complicated life. He had a lot of tragedy in his life. A lot of his children died before they were very old. [He] had a very complicated marriage as well. But in the end, he rose up to the occasion and became, I think, our greatest president."
Howard University historian Edna Greene Medford emphasized the memorial's symbolic power. "The Lincoln Memorial is a symbol of freedom, hope, and inclusion," she said. She added, "The memorial becomes not just a symbol for freedom for Black people, but it becomes a symbol of freedom for various groups. They feel that this is their memorial. And they are interpreting freedom in their own way."