Whistleblowers say rare historic DC artifacts are in grave danger

On June 25, the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft — a $69 million exhibit underneath the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC — opened. The exhibit features rare artifacts, including copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the U.S. Constitution's 13th Amendment. And according to City Cast DC reporter Emma Uber, the historic treasures are in danger because of excessive heat.

"The documents — treasured turning points in the nation's effort to end slavery — date back to the 1860s and are worth millions," Uber reports in City Cast DC. "But three National Park Service employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, described a facility with faulty security measures. Notably, the employees said, the Park Service has struggled to maintain proper conditions for its rare and delicate documents. Screens designed to shield the records from harsh light have been defective, and temperatures inside the display case have repeatedly reached more than 80 degrees (Fahrenheit), according to the Park Service officials. Experts say that's a violation of professional standards for housing historic documents and hot enough to accelerate decay."

According to Katie Lowe of the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, historic documents from the 19th Century should never be exposed to temperatures higher than 75F — especially if there is high humidity.

Lowe told City Cast DC, "Decay is a chemical process, and when you introduce heat you accelerate chemical processes."

Uber notes that according to the National Archives' website should be stored at temperatures under 75F to "slow the rate of chemical decay and reduce insect activity." And the Northeast Document Conservation Center recommends temperatures between 64F and 72F degrees for storing important documents.

Highlighting her article on X, Uber notes, "Less than a month after the opening of a $69 million exhibit beneath the Lincoln Memorial, Park Service officials are raising alarm bells .... It's the latest in a string of troubles involving upgrades to the National Mall as part of America's 250th birthday celebrations. An NPS spokesperson told me the documents are being properly cared for. They did not answer when I asked why there was a fan pointed toward the display case. "

The historic artifacts in the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft, according to Uber, are "on loan from hedge fund billionaire and philanthropist Kenneth C. Griffin through June 2027."

Lowe told City Cast DC, "A year is certainly enough time for damage to occur."