The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with the Washington Monument reflected in and rising above it in July 2005.
The
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is the largest of the many reflecting pools in Washington, D.C., U.S. It is a long and large rectangular pool located on the
National Mall, directly east of the
Lincoln Memorial, with the
Washington Monument to the east of the reflecting pool.
Part of the iconic image of Washington, the reflecting pool hosts many
of the 24 million visitors a year who visit the National Mall.
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/or the expansive
sky.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool seen from the Washington Monument in September 2006.
Description
Ice covering the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after the First North American blizzard of 2010.
The
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was designed by Henry Bacon,
constructed in 1922 and 1923, following the dedication of the Lincoln
Memorial. It is approximately 2,029 feet (618 m) long (over a third of a
mile) and 167 feet (51 m) wide. It has a depth of approximately 18
inches (46 cm) on the sides and 30 inches (76 cm) in the center. It
holds approximately 6,750,000 U.S. gallons (25,500,000 L) of water.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool undergoing reconstruction in 2011.
Restoration
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
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.
Construction on the 18-month, $30.7 million project began in November
2010. In May 2011, workers began sinking the first of 2,113 wood pilings into a 40-foot deep layer of soft, marshy river clay and some dredged material atop bedrock to support a new pool.
The pool reopened on August 31, 2012. The project was managed by the Louis Berger Group.
Events
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.
- 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.
- In 2010, the Restoring Honor rally was held.
- 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 150 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 featuring various speakers
including President Barack Obama and John Lewis, the only speaker from the original rally to remain living.
External links
Source: Wikipedia
