A new museum will be built under the Lincoln Memorial

Beneath the Lincoln Memorial is its “underground floor,” a cavernous area filled with rows of tall concrete columns and large expanses of open space that have long been hidden from the public, and a new immersive museum will soon be built here.

On Monday, the National Park Service announced plans for a 15,000-square-foot exhibition space dedicated to the history of President Abraham Lincoln and a memorial in his honor.

Construction on the $69 million project is expected to begin in March. It is scheduled for completion in 2026, the 250th anniversary of US independence.

The exhibition space will include floor-to-ceiling glass walls providing views of the long-hidden basement and columns supporting the memorial above it, as well as an immersive theatrical performance that will project images of historical events onto the foundation.

Visitors will learn how the memorial was built, as well as how the statue became an iconic backdrop for civil rights demonstrations. The museum will also feature prominent figures who have shaped the memorial’s history, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and singer Marian Anderson.

“For more than a century, the Lincoln Memorial has been the crucible of American democracy, a solid platform for free speech, a site of civil protests that still shape society, and the scene of national celebrations,” said Will Shafroth, President and CEO. This is stated in the message of the National Parks Foundation.

“Thanks to generous sponsors, the National Park Service will ensure that the Lincoln Memorial continues to make history for another 100 years,” he added.

The project will also include upgrades to other areas of the site, including new restrooms and a larger bookstore.

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