The Lincoln Memorial is CLOSED after rioting “Georgetown” students hosted a graduation ceremony there and left its steps littered with broken liquor bottles
- The Lincoln Memorial barricade in front of its steps Saturday and the National Park Service cleaned up liquor bottles and trash
- The National Mall announced that “the local university’s graduation ceremony left trash, broken bottles and spilled wine and champagne on the steps.”
- It was able to reopen a few hours later after staff cleaned up the mess
- Social media users suspect it was Georgetown students celebrating their graduation this weekend
- The school hosted a Seniors’ Ball two miles from the memorial, which ran from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m
The Lincoln Memorial was closed after Georgetown students reportedly held a rowdy graduation ceremony and left the steps littered with broken liquor bottles.
The National Mall valet service announced on Twitter this morning that the iconic monument in Washington Dc has been closed after a “local university graduation ceremony left rubbish, broken bottles and spilled wine and champagne on the steps”.
Georgetown has not been confirmed as a participating college – although its students traditionally go to the memorial after graduation to watch the sunrise.
It’s since been cleaned up and reopened, but the filth sparked fury – especially as celebrations for the landmark’s 100th birthday are set to begin soon.
Photos posted online show broken liquor bottles, crumpled water bottles, hair ties and ribbons among puddles of drying liquids as the sun bathed the National Mall and steps of the memorial, which turns 100 on May 30.
Journalist Anthony Tilghman posted a picture of the broken bottles and rubbish littering the steps
The Lincoln Memorial closed its steps after students at a “local university” – believed to be from Georgetown – “left garbage, broken bottles and spilled wine and champagne on the steps”.
The memorial announced on Twitter that it would be removed once it was “safe” and reopened a few hours later
The park has since reopened after staff cleaned up the trash a day ahead of the centenary celebrations.
It is reportedly a tradition for students to watch the sunrise at the memorial the day after graduation.
Although the park’s service did not say they were Georgetown University students, rumors circulated that the students belonged to the school, which was starting this weekend.
According to National Review, the school also hosted a senior citizens’ ball on Friday night, which was a few miles from the memorial. The party went from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m
has reached out to Georgetown University for comment.
No arrests were made and it is unclear if police were involved in the incident. Alcohol consumption is illegal on the National Mall.
More Georgetown students graduate throughout the weekend as law, field service and health school students receive their degrees.