Washington, DC just got a brand-new museum in the most unexpected place: beneath the Lincoln Memorial! After more than a century hidden from view, the memorial’s cavernous undercroft opened to the public on June 25, 2026, and it is already one of the most exciting new experiences in the nation’s capital.
The new exhibit area, created by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, spans about 15,000 square feet among the towering concrete columns that carry the 38,000-ton memorial. Through immersive exhibits and striking projections on the original foundation walls, visitors can discover how the memorial was built between 1914 and 1922, explore the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, and relive the moments that made the memorial a stage for history, from Marian Anderson’s legendary 1939 concert to Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech.
The project also brings better accessibility, upgraded elevators, new restrooms, and an expanded bookstore. Best of all, it is part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration, and Destination DC names it one of the top reasons to visit this fall.
Visiting requires a free timed-entry ticket, available up to 30 days in advance at Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777 (a small service fee applies for advance reservations). A trip to DC is not complete without descending into this hidden chamber of history!
Photo: Northern-Virginia-Photographer via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
