Recent controversy aside, how about some history? The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is the largest of the many reflecting pools in Washington, D.C. Designed by Henry Bacon and completed in 1923 to complement the Lincoln Memorial, the concrete-bottomed rectangular pool stretches 2,028–2,030 feet long, is 167 feet wide, and has a depth of 18–30 inches. The pool was intended to serve as a reflective surface, mirroring the surrounding monuments and sky, creating a serene atmosphere for its approximately 24 million annual visitors. It was built on reclaimed marshland and has required multiple restorations, including a major 2010–2012 rebuild that added a new circulation system and 2,133 timber pilings to stabilize the structure.
