Lincoln Memorial Preservation Issues: Fading Pool Liner and Risky Document Storage

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s basin liner, once described by former President Donald Trump as “American flag blue,” has faded to a muted gray. The National Park Service attributes the change to ultraviolet exposure, chemical treatments and the natural aging of the synthetic material used in the 2010‑2012 renovation. No immediate replacement is planned, with maintenance focused on structural integrity and water filtration.

In a separate area of the memorial, the newly opened Lincoln Memorial Undercroft displays original copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment. National Park Service staff reported that protective screens are defective and interior temperatures have risen above 80 °F, conditions that violate professional standards for preserving historic documents. The agency has not indicated a timeline for correcting the storage issues.

Both situations are part of broader upgrades to the National Mall undertaken for the United States’ 250th‑birthday celebrations and are overseen by the National Park Service.