History of Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 24, 2026

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is an iconic rectangular body of water situated in the National Mall in Washington, D.C., directly between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Designed by Henry Bacon and completed in 1923, the pool was intended to create a serene visual link between the two monuments, reflecting their grandeur in its calm surface. Spanning roughly 2,000 feet in length, the pool serves as a profound site for national reflection and public gatherings. It is most famous for hosting major historical moments, including the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech. Today, the pool remains a premier destination for tourists and a symbolic backdrop for American democracy, standing as a testament to the nation's history and its commemorative landscape.

February 12, 1914: Groundbreaking for the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool

On February 12, 1914, the official groundbreaking ceremony took place for both the Lincoln Memorial and the associated Reflecting Pool.

May 30, 1922: Dedication of the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool

The Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool were officially dedicated to the public on May 30, 1922.

1922: Dedication of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

In 1922, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was officially dedicated as a 2,030-by-167-foot concrete structure, originally designed to hold 6.75 million U.S. gallons of water.

January 18, 2009: We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration

On January 18, 2009, the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration was held at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool area to commemorate the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama.

2009: Reflecting Pool Restoration and Material Upgrade

During a restoration project in 2009, the original asphalt and tile bottom of the pool was replaced with concrete.

2009: Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Restoration

In 2009, a major restoration project was conducted on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which resulted in a decrease of its water capacity from approximately 6.75 million U.S. gallons to 4 million U.S. gallons.

2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding

In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided the necessary funding for the National Park Service to undertake the reconstruction of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

2009: Renovation of Reflecting Pool Floor and Water Supply

In 2009, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool underwent a significant structural upgrade where the original asphalt and tile floor was replaced with concrete slabs on timber pilings, and a new water circulation system sourced from the Tidal Basin was implemented.

November 2010: Reflecting Pool Reconstruction Begins

Construction officially commenced in November 2010 on a 30.74 million dollar project managed by the Louis Berger Group to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool over an 18-month timeline.

2010: Commencement of the Reflecting Pool Reconstruction

In 2010, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool began a comprehensive rebuilding process to update its infrastructure.

May 2011: Installation of Wood Pilings

In May 2011, construction workers began driving 2,133 wood pilings into the marshy ground and clay layers to provide a stable foundation for the reconstructed pool structure.

August 31, 2012: Reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

On August 31, 2012, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was officially reopened to the public featuring an updated water circulation system and new paved walking paths designed to reduce erosion.

2012: Revision of Reflecting Pool Capacity Estimates

As of 2012, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar stated that the capacity of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool had been reassessed to hold approximately 4 million U.S. gallons of water.

2012: Algae Bloom Remediation

In 2012, shortly after the reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, an intense algae bloom necessitated a $100,000 cleaning operation. To prevent recurring issues, the National Park Service increased the output of the pool's ozone disinfectant system.

2012: Completion of the Reflecting Pool Rebuilding

The extensive reconstruction project for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was successfully completed in 2012.

2013: World War II Memorial Construction Damage

During 2013, construction activities related to the National World War II Memorial caused physical damage to the eastern end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool basin.

August 2015: Initiation of Basin Repairs

In August 2015, National Park Service crews closed the eastern 30 feet of the Reflecting Pool to perform necessary repairs on the basin that had been damaged by previous construction.

2016: Completion of Basin Repairs

In the summer of 2016, the National Park Service successfully finished the repair work on the eastern portion of the Reflecting Pool, restoring the structure after the 2013 construction damage.

June 2017: Schistosome Outbreak Mitigation

In June 2017, the Reflecting Pool was fully drained as a public health measure to combat a schistosome parasite outbreak, which had infected local snail populations and resulted in the deaths of over 80 ducks and ducklings during the spring of 2017.

April 2026: Resurfacing of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

In April 2026, President Donald Trump announced the commencement of a project to resurface the concrete bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in a specific shade of blue described as 'American flag blue' to improve aesthetics and address algae accumulation.

2026: Pool Resurfacing and Installation of Advanced Filtration

In 2026, by order of U.S. President Donald Trump, the Reflecting Pool was updated with a blue polyurea coating for the surface and integrated a nanobubbler filtration system to improve water quality and maintenance.

2026: Controversial Renovation and Contracting of the Reflecting Pool

In 2026, the Trump administration initiated renovations on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool without federal agency reviews, public comment, or congressional approval. The project involved no-bid contracts awarded to Atlantic Industrial Coatings for structural repairs and Greenwater Services for a nanobubbler water purification system, both of which had personal ties to Trump. Previous contractors rejected the 2026 project, labeling the proposal as unfeasible.