The continuous high temperatures in Washington, D.C. have forced the temporary removal of the precious documents displayed in the basement of the Lincoln Memorial, including an original copy of the Emancipation Proclamation bearing President Lincoln’s signature and the original copy of the Thirteenth Amendment.
The massive Undercroft beneath the Lincoln Memorial, sealed for over a century, officially opened to the public in June 2026. After a decade of planning and construction costing $69 million, the basement has been transformed into a new exhibition space and visitor center.
Spanning approximately 1,300 square meters, the basement is adorned with 122 concrete pillars supporting the iconic structure of the Lincoln Memorial above. Visitors can get up close to view these foundational columns, rare stalactite formations, graffiti left by construction workers, and explore the construction process and history of the Lincoln Memorial through interactive physical exhibits. The exhibits include the original Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment.
The geological composition of early Washington, D.C. was marshland, necessitating deep excavation for a stable foundation. The basement had previously briefly opened in the 1970s and 1980s, closed in 1989 due to the discovery of asbestos, and had limited opening only during the Lincoln Memorial’s centennial celebration in 2022.
However, visitors heading to the memorial recently would find that these million-dollar artifacts are temporarily missing. Due to the impact of extreme high temperatures during the summer in Washington, D.C., the National Park Service recently relocated them for conservation purposes.
According to The Washington Post, the Emancipation Proclamation document with President Abraham Lincoln’s signature was borrowed from billionaire hedge fund manager and philanthropist Kenneth C. Griffin, with the loan period until June 2027. Griffin acquired these documents at an auction last year for $18 million.
As of July 15, due to concerns about the high temperatures potentially damaging these original documents, they have been removed. The temperatures had exceeded 80 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 27 degrees Celsius), surpassing the temperature limit suitable for preserving archival documents.
The National Park Service (NPS) confirmed the situation. “The National Park Service continues to manage the operation of the newly opened Lincoln Memorial Undercroft. As a precautionary measure, we have collaborated with the Griffin Catalyst team and the National Park Foundation to temporarily relocate these documents to address environmental issues related to the heatwave affecting Washington, D.C.,” the NPS stated. “Once this work is completed, these documents will be returned.”
The agency did not provide a specific timeline for the documents to be returned to the museum.
Admission to the Lincoln Memorial is free, but there is a $1 service fee for advance online reservations. Visitors can also purchase same-day tickets at the ticket booth near the Korean War Veterans Memorial.