| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| HTA ID | HTA-0451 |
| Title | Under the Lincoln Memorial |
| Date | c. 1979–1980 |
| Date Confidence | MODERATE — PM Magazine era; co-host Susan Goldwater and the Look Magazine commercial (Look ceased publication in 1971 but ran nostalgic ads later) suggest early PM Magazine period |
| Program | PM Magazine |
| Station | WDVM-TV (formerly WTOP-TV), Channel 9, Washington DC |
| Duration | ~12:00 (estimated from transcript length) |
| Format | Exploration / Feature |
Henry and co-host Susan Goldwater explore the vast man-made cavern beneath the Lincoln Memorial — a space most of the 2.5 million annual visitors never see. Henry descends while Susan ascends the famous stairs, creating a split narrative.
Ranger Jim Burgess leads the tour through the foundation, which extends 50–60 feet down to bedrock. The space is adorned with concrete pillars and pipes, geological formations (stalactites from mineral deposits), and graffiti left by construction workers dating back to 1914 when construction began. They find old pint bottles, beer cans, and garbage left by workmen — "Your guess is probably as good as mine" about what was in the bottles.
Henry discovers graffiti ("I don't want to be disrespectful in the Lincoln Memorial, but I think you have some graffiti artists working over here") and explores the massive foundation piers that support the monument. The piece reveals that the memorial was built up from street level — the reflecting pool level — making the underground space essentially the full height of the visible monument.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| People | Henry Tenenbaum (host), Susan Goldwater (co-host), Ranger Jim Burgess (National Park Service guide) |
| Organizations | WDVM-TV, PM Magazine, National Park Service |
| Locations | Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC (underground foundation) |
| Subjects | Monuments, architecture, hidden spaces, Washington DC landmarks, history |
| Themes | Hidden worlds, exploration, American history, discovery |
| Tone | Curious, exploratory, humorous |
"The Lincoln Memorial's kind of like an iceberg. There's a part that you see, and then there's a part that you don't."
"Some 50 feet beneath Mr. Lincoln's statue, it's a whole other monument of sorts, adorned with pillars and pipes, geologic wonders, and a huge dark cavern created by man."
"I don't want to be disrespectful in the Lincoln Memorial, but I think you have some graffiti artists working over here."
Shot on location at the Lincoln Memorial with National Park Service cooperation. The split narrative — Henry going down while Susan goes up — is a clever structural device. Lighting the underground space for television would have required significant production effort. Part of a full PM Magazine episode that also teased a Billy Joel interview in Philadelphia. Regular departments included J.T. Solomon on fashion, Chef Tell seafood spread, and Dr. Gabe Merkin on heart exercises.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Era | PM Magazine/WDVM period (1979–1981) |
| Location | Washington DC — local feature |
| Theme | Exploration/hidden spaces (see also spelunking stories) |
| Co-host | Susan Goldwater — PM Magazine co-host |
| Tape | HN_40 — Under Lincoln tape |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Source File | HN_40 Under Lincoln.txt |
| Alternate Files | None identified |
| Source Location | /transcript_working/!transcript macwhisper/ |
| Transcription Quality | Good — clear audio despite underground acoustics |
| Repository Status | Preserved |
The underground spaces beneath the Lincoln Memorial are real and have been periodically opened for public tours. The foundation was built between 1914 and 1922 and consists of massive concrete piers extending to bedrock. The stalactites that form from mineral-laden water seeping through the concrete are a genuine geological phenomenon. The graffiti left by construction workers is historically documented and includes names, dates, and drawings from the 1914–1922 construction period. This piece is a strong example of Henry's ability to find compelling stories in familiar Washington landmarks — revealing the hidden world beneath one of America's most visited monuments.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Review Date | 2026-07-06 |
| Source File | HN_40 Under Lincoln.mp4 |
| Source Location | Dropbox / PM MAGAZINE folder |
| Duration (confirmed) | ~28:59 (full episode; Henry's main feature ~8 min + transitions) |
| Video Quality | Good |
Full PM Magazine episode. Henry's main feature explores the hidden cavern beneath the Lincoln Memorial with Ranger Jim Burgess and co-host Susan. The underground space features massive foundation pillars, construction worker graffiti from 1914 (including caricatures of the foreman and President Taft), stalactites/stalagmites formed by limestone erosion. Henry pops out of a ground-level grate as a transition gag.
| Timestamp | Content |
|---|---|
| 0:00–0:55 | Dark opening with Susan |
| 1:51–2:04 | Show intro outside Lincoln Memorial |
| 2:30–9:50 | Main feature: cavern exploration |
| 10:04–10:13 | Pops out of ground-level grate (transition gag) |
| 18:58–19:23 | Billy Joel intro from record store |
| 28:03–28:59 | Show closing |
Henry descends into the cavern beneath the Lincoln Memorial, explores the foundation pillars, discovers 1914 construction worker graffiti (caricatures of foreman and Taft), examines stalactites/stalagmites, picks up an old bottle and pretends to drink, and pops his head out of a ground-level grate for the transition. He also introduces a Billy Joel segment from a discount record store in Chevy Chase.
The total darkness experiment ("Jim? Susan? Where are you?") creates genuine tension. Discovering the 1914 graffiti — workers' caricatures of their foreman and President Taft — is a wonderful historical find. Henry picking up an old bottle and pretending to drink, then popping out of the ground-level grate, demonstrate his irreverent approach to serious historical subjects. The piece balances genuine historical discovery with physical comedy.
"We'll see you then. Good night."