Secret Tunnel Under Lincoln Room Revealed: A Hidden Gem of the Capitol
North Carolina Representative Tim Moore has shared a video showcasing a secret tunnel beneath the US Capitol. The tunnel, which has its entrance from the Lincoln Room, was previously the House’s post office during former President Abraham Lincoln’s time in office, according to a report in The New York Post.
In a post on the social media platform X, Moore wrote, "Come with me to see one of the hidden secrets of the Capitol!" He added, "The Lincoln Room is one of my favorite spots to bring visitors – when President Lincoln was serving in the House, he sat by the fireplace in this room to read his letters, but the most interesting part of the room is underneath the floorboards."
Moore said, "You can see there’s a passageway. These were old stairs that used to be here but were closed off. Believe it or not, my big self [has] actually gotten down and more importantly, out of this hole," he added.
The secret room’s construction started in the 1700s, and Moore said the Capitol still had all sorts of little hidden passageways. He also mentioned that the tunnel takes you out of the US Capitol. When the Capitol building was first constructed, the House of Representatives met in Statuary Hall, which is now a gallery featuring statues of famous Americans and is adjacent to the Lincoln Room.
President George Washington placed the foundation stone for the Capitol Building in 1793. However, it got completed only in 1826 because it was set on fire in 1814 by the British soldiers during the War of 1812.
The Lincoln Room’s secret staircase showed signatures, most likely from legislators and other people who wished to add their names to the historic passage.
This discovery adds another layer of intrigue to the Capitol’s history, showcasing the hidden gems and secrets that lie beneath the surface of this iconic building.
