Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool facts for kids

Looking out over the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool towards the Washington Monument

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is a very long and famous pool in Washington, D.C.. It sits right in front of the important Lincoln Memorial. You can often see it in pictures with the tall Washington Monument in the background. Paths and trees line both sides of the pool, and many people enjoy walking or running there. When you look into the water, you can see clear reflections of both the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

This huge pool is located on the west side of the National Mall. It is about 2,029 feet (618 m) long. That's almost half a mile! It is also 167 feet (51 m) wide. The pool is about 18 inches (46 cm) deep at its edges. In the middle, it is about 30 inches (76 cm) deep. The Reflecting Pool holds a lot of water, around 6,750,000 U.S. gallons (25,500,000 L).

Historic Gatherings at the Reflecting Pool

Because the Reflecting Pool is located right in front of the Lincoln Memorial, many important events have taken place there. These events often involved large groups of people gathering for special occasions or to support important causes.

Marian Anderson's Famous Concert

In 1939, a talented singer named Marian Anderson faced a problem. She was not allowed to sing at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington. This was because of her race. Instead, she sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday. Over 75,000 people came to the Reflecting Pool area to listen to her beautiful voice. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, helped make her concert at the Lincoln Memorial possible. This event showed support for civil rights and equality.

The March on Washington and "I Have a Dream"

In 1963, a very large gathering called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place. This was a major Civil Rights rally held around the Reflecting Pool. During this event, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. A quarter million people stood around and even in the Reflecting Pool to hear his powerful words. This speech became a symbol of the fight for equality and justice for all people.

Images for kids

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  Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, 2006

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  Pool looking toward Lincoln Memorial

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  Anti-Vietnam War protesters gather at the pool for the October 21, 1967 March on the Pentagon

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  Ice covering the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after the February 5–6, 2010 North American blizzard

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  Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool before reconstruction (April 2010)

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  Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool undergoing reconstruction (June 2011)

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  The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool undergoing reconstruction (December 2011)

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  Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after reconstruction (May 2016)

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  The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool at sunset (August 2015)

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  The Washington Monument is seen in full in the Reflecting Pool, from the roof of the Lincoln Memorial. (June 2010)

See also

In Spanish: Estanque reflectante del monumento a Lincoln para niños