Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 18
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Paint Peels After $14.7 Million Renovation
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 18

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Paint Peels After $14.7 Million Renovation

3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 18

Summary

  • Peeling was visible across the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool floor on Thursday, less than two weeks after Trump declared the $14.7 million renovation complete on June 6.
  • Workers had already begun pouring hydrogen peroxide into the pool by Tuesday after an algae bloom turned the newly refinished water green instead of the intended dark blue.
  • The National Park Service and contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings did not immediately comment on the failure, while some visitors said the project wasted money and spoiled the pool.
  • The refurbishment is part of Trump's broader Washington overhaul, which also includes plans for a new White House ballroom and a large arch near Arlington National Cemetery.

Insights

Is the new 'American flag blue' paint to blame for the Reflecting Pool's persistent algae and peeling issues?
How was a firm with no federal experience awarded the sole-source contract to restore one of America's most iconic landmarks?
Does the push for a blue pool ignore the monument's purpose as a solemn, reflective space?