Workers refilled the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after President Donald Trump had the basin repainted blue at a reported cost of millions of dollars. The pool, which stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, had been drained for the cosmetic alteration.
Trump ordered the color change to what he described as an American flag blue, departing from the pool’s traditional dark tone that mirrors the sky. The project drew criticism from preservationists who questioned spending on aesthetic modifications at a National Mall landmark.
Refilling the pool restores one of the most photographed vistas in the nation’s capital. Tourists and residents had found the empty basin an unusual sight during the weeks it remained dry for painting work.
The National Park Service manages the reflecting pool as part of the Mall’s historic landscape. The repainting episode became a flashpoint in broader debates over how the administration treats federal monuments and public spaces in Washington.
The reflecting pool was designed in the 1920s as part of the National Mall’s ceremonial landscape and holds approximately six million gallons when full. Park Service crews tested water quality and structural integrity before restoring the pool to operation.
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Sources:
https://www.npr.org/sections/national/