Overview
- The Lincoln Memorial Undercroft opened on June 25 and is showing original 1860s documents — including a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment — on loan from Kenneth C. Griffin through June 2027.
- City Cast DC and other outlets reported on Wednesday that unnamed National Park Service employees said light‑shielding screens were defective, a fan was observed pointed at a case, and interior case temperatures repeatedly topped 80°F.
- Conservation specialists note professional guidance recommends keeping historic paper below about 75°F and often between 64°F and 72°F, and they warn sustained heat can cause mold, embrittlement, yellowing and ink corrosion.
- The National Park Service issued a brief statement saying the documents are being “cared for” and that it is in regular contact with the donor and the National Park Foundation, but it has not publicly provided technical data or described remediation steps.
- If the reported conditions persist, experts say the originals could suffer lasting harm within the loan period, making independent inspections, clear environmental readings, and possible removal or replacement with facsimiles the key developments to watch next.