Rectangular pool in Washington, D.C.
The
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
is the largest of the many
reflecting pools
in
Washington, D.C.
. It is a 2,030-by-167-foot (619 by 51 m) rectangular pool located on the
National Mall
, directly east of the
Lincoln Memorial
, with the
World War II Memorial
and
Washington Monument
to the east of the reflecting pool.
[1]
Part of the iconic image of Washington, D.C., the reflecting pool hosts many of the 24 million visitors who visit the National Mall annually.
[2]
It is lined by walking paths and shade trees on both sides. Depending on the viewer's vantage point, it dramatically reflects the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Mall's trees, and the expansive sky.
Description
[
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]
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was designed by
Henry Bacon
, and was constructed in 1922 and 1923, following the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. It is approximately
2,030 feet (620 m;
3
⁄
8
mi) long and 167 feet (51 m) wide.
[3]
The perimeter of the pool is therefore
4,392 feet (1,339 meters;
13
⁄
16
mile) around. It has a depth of approximately 18 in (46 cm) on the sides and 30 in (76 cm) in the center. It holds approximately 6,750,000 U.S. gallons (25,600,000 liters) of water.
[4]
Restoration
[
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]
Using funding from the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
, the
National Park Service
reconstructed the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The pool's water supply system was updated to eliminate
stagnant water
by circulating water from the
Tidal Basin
; the pool was formerly filled using
potable water
from the city. Paved walking paths were added to the north and south sides of the pool to replace worn grass and to prevent further
erosion
.
[5]
Construction on the 18-month, $30.74 million project began in November 2010. In May 2011, workers began sinking the first of 2,113 wood
pilings
into a 40-foot-deep (12-meter) layer of soft, marshy river
clay
and some dredged material atop
bedrock
to support a new pool.
[6]
The pool reopened on August 31, 2012. The project was managed by the
Louis Berger Group
.
[7]
Post-restoration operation
[
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]
Within weeks of the pool's reopening in 2012, it had to be drained and cleaned at a cost of $100,000 due to
algae
in the pool. The algae growth was so extensive it almost completely covered the surface of the pool.
[8]
Using an ozone disinfectant system installed during the renovation,
[9]
the National Park Service said it would double the amount of algae-killing ozone in the pool to control future outbreaks.
[8]
In 2013, construction on the
National World War II Memorial
damaged the eastern end of the Reflecting Pool. NPS workers closed the eastern 30 feet (9 meters) of the pool in August 2015 to repair the basin, work that was completed in the summer of 2016.
[10]
The Reflecting Pool was completely drained in June 2017 to control a parasitical outbreak. The parasite, which causes
swimmer's itch
, infects snails which inhabit the pool. More than 80 ducks and ducklings have died at the pool due to parasitical infection since May 20. Park Service workers said the work and refilling of the pool would take 10 days.
[11]
Historic events
[
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]
Located at the base of the Lincoln Memorial's steps, the Reflecting Pool area has been the site of many historic events, including:
- In 1939, singer
Marian Anderson
was denied permission to perform at
Constitution Hall
in Washington because she was
African American
. An open-air concert was held on Easter Sunday, with a crowd of over 75,000 people.
- On August 28, 1963, the
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
used the area for its
Civil Rights
rally. It was there that
Martin Luther King Jr.
gave his "
I Have a Dream
" speech, delivered to a crowd of 250,000 people.
- On October 21, 1967, 100,000
anti-Vietnam War
protesters met at the pool and memorial to begin the
March on the Pentagon
.
- In 2009,
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
was held, with a crowd of 400,000 people.
- In 2010, the restoration project began.
- On August 28, 2010, the
Restoring Honor rally
was held. Notable speakers included
Alveda King
, the niece of
Martin Luther King Jr.
, former vice presidential candidate
Sarah Palin
, and the event's organizer
Glenn Beck
.
- As of 2012, the restoration project was completed and the pool was reopened on August 31.
- On December 31, 2012, National Park Rangers, using their personal funds and time, lit over 2,000 candles around the reflecting pool in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, where the Park Service rang in the New Year with a Night Watch and Freedom Vigil and the singing of "
My Country, 'Tis of Thee
."
- On August 28, 2013, the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech was commemorated by an all-day event. The event featured various speakers including then President
Barack Obama
and
John Lewis
, the only living speaker from the original rally.
- On January 19, 2021, then
President-elect
Joe Biden
and then
Vice President-elect
Kamala Harris
held a memorial honoring the 400,000
Americans
who had died in the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
.
[12]
Gallery
[
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]
-
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool seen from the
Lincoln Memorial
in 2004
-
Ice covering the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after the
February 5?6, 2010 North American blizzard
-
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool before reconstruction in April 2010
-
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool undergoing reconstruction in June 2011
-
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool undergoing reconstruction in December 2011
-
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after reconstruction in May 2016
-
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool at sunset in August 2015
-
The
Washington Monument
seen in the Reflecting Pool from the roof of the Lincoln Memorial in June 2010
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Foundation Statement for the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Park"
(PDF)
,
National Park Service
, retrieved
2010-05-20
- ^
Gibson, T. (2 Apr 2010).
"Reflecting Pool Could Go on 2-Year Hiatus"
.
nbcwashington.com
. USA
. Retrieved
21 Mar
2018
.
- ^
"Restoration of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool"
. WSP. n.d. Archived from
the original
on 11 August 2020
. Retrieved
2020-12-08
.
- ^
"Deconstructing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool"
. Watercrunch. 2009-01-19. Archived from
the original
on 27 February 2012
. Retrieved
2009-10-05
.
- ^
MacSpadden, Lisa; Staudigl, Stephen (2010-04-01),
"NCPC Adopts CapitalSpace Plan and Approves Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool/Grounds Rehabilitation and St. Elizabeths West Campus Perimeter Security"
,
National Capital Planning Commission, News Release
, archived from
the original
on 2010-05-27
, retrieved
2010-04-23
- ^
Ruane, Michael E. (2011-05-11).
"Deep-rooted support for new Lincoln pool"
.
The Washington Post
. Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Co. pp. B1, B5
. Retrieved
2011-05-11
.
- ^
Henning, Tyler (April 2013).
"Improved Filtration Revitalizes a National Treasure"
.
Modern Pumping Today
. Retrieved
16 May
2015
.
- ^
a
b
Wheeler, Candace (October 3, 2012).
"Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool is drained to remove algae"
.
The Washington Post
. Retrieved
June 10,
2017
.
- ^
Ruane, Michael (August 12, 2012).
"Lincoln reflecting pool rehab nears completion"
.
The Boston Globe
. Retrieved
June 10,
2017
.
- ^
"Part of reflecting pool to undergo months-long repairs"
.
WTOP.com
. August 31, 2015
. Retrieved
June 10,
2017
.
- ^
Wamsley, Laurel (June 9, 2017).
"Park Service To Drain Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool After 80 Ducks Die"
.
NPR
. Retrieved
June 10,
2017
.
- ^
"Biden and Harris honor COVID-19 victims on eve of inauguration"
.
CBS News
.
External links
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]
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38°53′21″N
77°02′42″W
/
38.8893°N 77.045°W
/
38.8893; -77.045