The Lincoln Memorial's long-sealed underground vaults, known as the undercroft, are being transformed into a 15,000-square-foot museum space set to open on June 25. Tickets for opening-day large tours have already sold out. The $69 million project was funded by a $18.5 million gift from philanthropist David M. Rubenstein to the National Park Foundation in 2016, with additional support from the National Park Service, Ken Griffin, and several foundations.
The opening of the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum provides a new way for visitors to engage with the symbolism and history of the monument, addressing a longstanding gap in public understanding. By creating an exhibition space beneath one of America's most iconic landmarks, the project enhances the educational mission of the National Mall and coincides with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, deepening the connection between the memorial and the nation's founding ideals.