Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Restoration
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Restoration
One of the National Mall’s most distinguished national landmarks, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was suffering considerable degradation and was in need of a major rehabilitation.
Originally built during the 1920’s—without any pilings to support it—the iconic pool had sunk about a foot.
This slow sinking caused significant cracking and leaking, which required the city to provide roughly 30 million gallons of water per year—nearly 600,000 gallons per week—just to replenish the loss. The Reflecting Pool, originally built with an asphalt and tile bottom, had deteriorated over the years, causing the pool to leak 500,000 gallons of water per week.
In 2012, the Reflecting Pool was completely rebuilt with sustainable water conservation features. These features include a new water supply system, with water being drawn from the Tidal Basin, and is treated with an ozone water filtration system.
The beautifully restored pool now has a tinted bottom so that it is more reflective. Old dirt paths have been replaced with sidewalks for easy access, and subtle nighttime illumination fixtures have been installed to guide visitors along the pool.
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