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Historic Documents Flee D.C. Heat
16 Jul
Summary
- Valuable antislavery documents were removed from Lincoln Memorial exhibit.
- Unsafe temperatures threatened the preservation of the historic artifacts.
- Documents are being relocated to a climate-controlled facility for inspection.
Valuable 160-year-old antislavery documents, including rare copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment signed by Abraham Lincoln, have been temporarily removed from a public exhibit under the Lincoln Memorial. This precautionary measure was taken due to exposure to temperatures exceeding optimal preservation conditions during a recent heatwave in Washington D.C. The artifacts, loaned by philanthropist Kenneth C. Griffin, are being relocated to a climate-controlled facility for detailed inspection.
The National Park Service confirmed that the documents were exposed to temperatures modestly above ideal levels for long-term preservation. While the originals are housed at the National Archives, Griffin had loaned these significant historical pieces, valued in the millions, for an exhibit that opened on June 25th. The display was originally intended to remain open until the following June.
Reports indicated that defective screens and repeated temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit had compromised the display's environment. The National Archives recommends maintaining historic documents between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit with minimal fluctuation. The National Park Service, along with Griffin's philanthropic team and the National Park Foundation, is working to ensure the documents' safety and will return them once preservation challenges are resolved.
