Lincoln Memorial Undergoing Huge Repair Project

WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Park Service has kicked off an eight-month-long project to replace the roof and make repairs on the Lincoln Memorial.

The memorial will remain open during the project, which will involve replacing the flat upper and lower roofs, which have gone 20 years since they were last replaced, the NPS said in a statement.

"Incoming water is staining the interior walls of the memorial, most noticeably on the southeast wall," the statement notes. "A sound roof is one of the most important ways to protect and preserve a historic building, and the new roofs will be constructed with five layers to keep the interior dry and watertight. From interior to exterior, the roofs will be composed of: hollow clay terracotta tile, concrete decking, a hot rubberized asphalt membrane, rigid insulation and slate pavers."

In addition, the project will involve repairing the white marble at the four corners of the penthouse level of the memorial, which were damaged in the 2011 earthquake.

"Overall, the condition of the stone is good, but there are isolated cracks and fractures requiring repair, as well as open mortar joints allowing moisture to penetrate," the statement adds. "Broken glass in the skylights above the statue and the decorative metal and marble ceiling will also be replaced as part of the work."

The north, west, and south sides of the base level of the memorial where the columns are will be closed to the public, as will the terrace level, but the memorial will still be accessible from other areas.

The project will cost $2.85 million, and repairs started Jan. 2. The NPS hopes to complete the project by late summer. This is the first phase of a $25 million long-term restoration effort.

Image via NPS