Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Opens to the Public

A hidden chamber beneath the feet of former President Abraham Lincoln is now accessible, offering visitors an exclusive view of the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft. This 15,000-square-foot museum, situated directly under the monument, will be open for public exploration with advance reservations.

For a century, the vast chamber remained vacant, resembling a two-story complex supported by 122 concrete pillars. The project, funded by $26 million from federal sources and $48 million from the National Park Foundation, took a decade of planning, with construction commencing in 2023, as noted by Julie Moore, Vice President of Communications with the Trust for the National Mall.

The Emancipation Proclamation is displayed inside the Undercroft. (U.S. Department of the Interior)

The museum now features various exhibits below the statue of the 16th president, including interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and a bookstore. Prominent items on display include original copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, signed by Lincoln, as per the U.S. Department of the Interior.

An illustration shows the location of the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft museum location. (NPS)

Visitors will gain insight into the memorial’s construction through exhibits featuring historical tools and graffiti from the construction era of the 1920s. Moore emphasizes that the undercroft not only tells of the building’s history but also its evolution as a symbol of American civics.

Exhibits honor the site’s impactful role in civil rights history, including events like Marian Anderson’s 1939 concert and the March on Washington. A depiction of Lincoln using pennies is displayed at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Annabelle Gordon/Reuters)

Reservations can be made through recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Tickets can be booked up to 30 days in advance, with walk-up tickets available daily at 8:45 a.m. from the Korean War Veterans Memorial kiosk.

Alexandra Koch, a Fox News Digital Editor, focuses on major events shaping the national dialogue. She has reported on significant crises such as the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and flooding in Texas Hill Country.