Baltimore Billionaire Donates $19M To Restore Lincoln Memorial

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It was quite a President's Day gift: almost $19 million to restore and expand the Lincoln Memorial.

Alex DeMetrick reports the gift comes from a Baltimore native.

Think of the Lincoln Memorial. What comes to mind? Probably the massive statue; it does not disappoint.

"We just came from New York and I saw wonderful things in New York, but this is honestly the best thing I've ever, ever seen. It was beyond my expectations and very moving," said DC visitor Janina Simpson.

At seven million people a year, the Lincoln Memorial is the most visited memorial on the mall.

"So if more people can go to the Memorial and learn about Lincoln, I think it would be a good thing," said David Rubenstein.

And Rubenstein is spending $18.5 million to do just that.

Right now, there is a small visitor's center beneath the great statue. Much of Rubenstein's gift will expand it by using still more space below the memorial for classrooms and a museum.

"When we're done here, we'll be able to put much more contest, much more information about the great man for people to take with them," said Mike Litterest, National Park Service.

The donation will also go toward maintenance of the memorial.

"I realized I had more money than I really needed to spend on myself, on my family and I didn't want to give my children gigantic sums of money; I didn't think that was appropriate, so I decided to give my money away," Rubenstein said.

Millions for restoration of the Marine Corps War Memorial, a library at Mount Vernon, repairs at Monticello and, after an earthquake heavily damaged the Washington Memorial, Rubenstein spent almost $8 million to help fix it. That donation placed the man whose father worked in a Baltimore post office and who went on to make a fortune in finance in the spotlight. But it's others he's focused on.

"I'm hoping to get younger people to learn more about our history and ultimately they'll become more informed citizens and maybe that will be good for the country," he said.

Repairs and renovation of the Lincoln Memorial will take until 2019 to complete.