A hidden space beneath one of Washington's most famous monuments has been revealed to the public for the first time in more than a century, Eyewitness News ABC7NY reported. The chamber under the Lincoln Memorial is now open, giving visitors access to an area that had been closed off for over 100 years.
The newly opened space is far from small. It is a 15,000 square foot undercroft, the cavernous structural area built beneath the memorial, which has now been transformed into a visitor attraction rather than remaining an unseen part of the landmark's foundations.
At the heart of the project is a new museum dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. The undercroft includes a Lincoln museum that lets visitors explore the history tied to the president and the monument built in his honor, adding a major cultural draw beneath a site that millions already visit each year.
Among the items on display is a particularly notable piece of history. According to the report, the museum features a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Lincoln, placing one of the most significant documents associated with his presidency at the center of the new exhibition space.
Opening the chamber to the public was a substantial undertaking. The project cost 69 million dollars and was funded by a combination of private donors and the National Park Service, reflecting the scale of work required to convert the long-sealed area into a finished, accessible museum.
The unveiling comes as the country prepares for a major milestone. The opening is tied to the celebrations marking America's 250th birthday, with the new space positioned as part of the lead-up to the Fourth of July and the broader commemorations planned around the anniversary.
The debut of the undercroft is unfolding even as work continues elsewhere at the site, with crews still active on the reflecting pool outside the memorial. For now, the opening of the underground chamber adds a new chapter to a landmark that has stood as a centerpiece of the National Mall for generations.