Two rare Abraham Lincoln-signed documents have been examined and found to be in good condition after being pulled from display at the Lincoln Memorial last month due to excessive heat.
The documents — a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation and a copy of the 13th Amendment, both carrying Lincoln’s original signature — were removed July 16 from the memorial’s new underground exhibit space, known as the Undercroft, after the National Park Service determined they had been exposed to temperatures that were not considered safe for long-term preservation.
The artifacts, which are valued in the millions, are on loan from Chicago billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin, who purchased them at auction last year for a reported $18 million.
They had been part of the Undercroft’s inaugural exhibit, which opened June 25 as part of festivities marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, with plans to remain on view through mid-2027.
