Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum Opens to Public
So, guess what? Tickets are now on sale for a brand new museum that’s opening right under the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. It’s set to launch on June 25, which is pretty cool since that’s also the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This underground space, which used to be just a plain old cellar, has been turned into a 15,000-square-foot exhibit area that highlights both the memorial’s construction and its impact on how we see Abraham Lincoln. The project, costing $69 million, kicked off in 2016 after a generous $18.5 million gift from David M. Rubenstein. A bunch of other donors contributed too. Oh, and tickets for the big tours on the opening day are already gone!
Key facts
- Tickets for the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum are on sale ahead of its June 25 opening.
- The opening coincides with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
- The undercroft is a 15,000-square-foot exhibition space beneath the memorial.
- The $69 million project began with an $18.5 million gift from David M. Rubenstein in 2016.
- Funding also came from Ken Griffin, the John L. Nau III Foundation, the Rick L. and Vicki L. James Foundation, and the Glenn W. Bailey Foundation.
- NPS provided $26 million and NPF provided $43 million.
- The project includes upgraded elevators, new restrooms, and an expanded bookstore.
- The Lincoln Memorial was built from 1914 to 1922, designed by Henry Bacon with a statue by Daniel Chester French.
Entities
Artists
- David M. Rubenstein
- Ken Griffin
- Henry Bacon
- Daniel Chester French
- Jeff Reinbold
- Doug Burgum
Institutions
- National Park Service
- National Park Foundation
- John L. Nau III Foundation
- Rick L. and Vicki L. James Foundation
- Glenn W. Bailey Foundation
Locations
- Washington, D.C.
- United States