"Since its dedication in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial has been one of Washington, D.C.’s most beloved tributes. The monument is noteworthy for its sheer size—the statue of Lincoln alone clocks in at 175 tons. But over the years, it’s gained associations with the Civil Rights movement, too. In 1939, Marian Anderson, a soprano who was denied access to Constitution Hall because of her race, gave a historic concert on the memorial’s steps. And the memorial was the backdrop for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s electric “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. But in recent years, Honest Abe’s temple has gotten dirty and somewhat damaged. That’s about to change: Yesterday, the National Park Service announced that the memorial will get a multimillion-dollar renovation.
In a release, the National Park Foundation announced that philanthropist David Rubenstein has donated $18.5 million to repair and restore the memorial. The long to-do list includes plans to repair damaged brick and marble, build 15,000-square feet of additional display space, add an elevator and, of course, give the memorial a good scrub. The renovation will also open the memorial’s foundational pillars to the public, giving visitors glimpses of graffiti left by the workers who built the monument..."Lincoln Memorial
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