# Where's the blue? (reflecting pool) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 14, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664 "2026-07-14T18:48:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/1 "2026-07-14T18:48:50Z")
OK, they’re draining the reflecting pool again. All the pictures I’ve seen show no hint of the blue color that’s supposed to be there. Is it just because the color is obscured by scum from the drained water? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/2 "2026-07-14T21:04:17Z")
You can see the blue in this flapping piece in this Facebook video. [https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1E8cX8f4sX/](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1E8cX8f4sX/) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/3 "2026-07-14T21:37:05Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > All the pictures I’ve seen show no hint of the blue color that’s supposed to be there. I had the same thought. You can see it live from the Washington Monument streaming cam, and it sure doesn’t look blue. > **[WAMO Cam](https://www.earthcam.com/usa/dc/washingtonmonument/?cam=wamo)** > > Explore America's capital from over 500 feet in the air with EarthCam's live streaming webcam embedded in the Washington Monument's pyramidion! > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > You can see the blue in this flapping piece in this Facebook video. Interesting that it appears a bit blue there. But all the images I’ve seen look very gray. [![](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/6a55e8c2e23170c00caea4b9/Lincoln-Memorial-Reflecting-Pool/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&crop=2805,1578,x0,y144,safe&width=1440) ](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/6a55e8c2e23170c00caea4b9/Lincoln-Memorial-Reflecting-Pool/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&crop=2805,1578,x0,y144,safe&width=1440) I take that back. This one is “blue-ish”: [![](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/6a55e96e025a18e8202550a7/Lincoln-Memorial-Reflecting-Pool/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&crop=3125,1757,x0,y161,safe&width=1440) ](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/6a55e96e025a18e8202550a7/Lincoln-Memorial-Reflecting-Pool/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&crop=3125,1757,x0,y161,safe&width=1440) From [Trump Again Claims 'Vandals' Damaged Reflecting Pool As It Gets Drained (Photos)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/07/14/trump-repeats-claim-vandals-damaged-reflecting-pool-as-it-gets-drained-again-photos/) ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/4 "2026-07-14T21:39:59Z")
Isn’t that just the sky being reflected? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/5 "2026-07-14T21:40:00Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Interesting that it appears a bit blue there. But all the images I’ve seen look very gray. Maybe the bottom is blue and the top isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/6 "2026-07-14T22:03:01Z")
I found a photo of them adding the lining: [![](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2026/06/05/USAT/90420401007-reflecting-pool-repainted-09.jpg?width=407&height=610&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp) ](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2026/06/05/USAT/90420401007-reflecting-pool-repainted-09.jpg?width=407&height=610&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp) It looks _very_ blue there. It’s from this article: > **[Photos show blue surface added to Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool](https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/nation/2026/06/05/reflecting-pool-blue-update-washington-dc/90420081007/)** > > President Donald Trump ordered a renovation to paint the drained pool with a blue liner to change its gray concrete bottom to "American Flag Blue." And here is another photo showing it from far above: [![](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2026/06/05/USAT/90420400007-reflecting-pool-repainted-08.jpg?width=1320&height=882&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp) ](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2026/06/05/USAT/90420400007-reflecting-pool-repainted-08.jpg?width=1320&height=882&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp) It looks to me from newer photos like the lining just isn’t there, whether removed intentionally or the damage was _really_ extensive. I seem to remember that repairing the lining is part of the warranty from the vendor, so maybe it was removed and will be resurfaced. Just a WAG. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/7 "2026-07-15T11:01:13Z")
It’s either that the lining or the coating degraded very quickly, or that as the water drained the algae bloom in the water column just was left on the surface, hiding the remains of the blue. I bet if you could wipe it you’d see blue(ish) under the grey gunk. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/8 "2026-07-16T02:37:15Z")
I wonder what’s going to be done next. Will the coating just be removed and the pool refilled? Will they try a different coating? It seemed a silly pursuit to me from the start, but that’s a topic for another forum. Oh, yeah- I just noticed the misspelling in the title. I can spell, just can’t type! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/9 "2026-07-16T22:49:16Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > OK, they’re draining the reflecting pool again. All the pictures I’ve seen show no hint of the blue color that’s supposed to be there. Is it just because the color is obscured by scum from the drained water? Found [an article talking about it](https://apnews.com/article/reflecting-pool-drained-washington-monument-trump-repairs-0745ba52bc7273ce411ef29880f71cf0?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us); apparently the blue really did darken to gray that quickly. [![](https://public.flourish.studio/published_thumbnails/visualisation/29699733/922d6517f83b1369.jpg) ](https://public.flourish.studio/published_thumbnails/visualisation/29699733/922d6517f83b1369.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/10 "2026-07-17T00:18:27Z")
If gray is inevitable, why not just leave the bare concrete surface? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2026, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-blue-reflecting-pool/1031664/11 "2026-07-17T00:52:34Z")
It is shocking that _No-Bid Bob’s Pool Supplies and Truck Bed Liners_ didn’t anticipate this! And since this is FQ, their name really isn’t that. It is _Atlantic Industrial Coatings_.