Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
The iconic giant mirror in the capital
Architecture & Art
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is one of the most known landmarks in Washington, DC. It is located on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial.
Designed by Henry Bacon, the reflecting poll was constructed in 1922. The water in the basin is very calm. Its surface appears like a large mirror - 618 metres long, 51 metres wide, with the reflections of the monuments on either end.
In 2012, the reflection pool underwent some major reconstruction works because the pool was sinking and it was loosing about 500,000 gallons of water a week. Today, the concrete basin is overall 7.5 acres big. It holds 4 million gallons of water that is filtered in from the Potomac River via the Tidal Basin.
Fun & Interesting
In 2017, the reflecting pool was temporarily drained. Ducklings were dying because of a parasite in snails that were living in the water. The reflecting pool was cleaned and refilled. Ducklings bathe safely again.
Especially in the morning and in the evening hours, when the light of the monuments are reflected in the water, it is worth a visit. One can take great snapshots during these times of the day!
General Info
