The Lincoln Memorial was reopened on Friday evening after vandals spattered green paint on the statue overnight.
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism National Park Service workers clean the statue of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013, after someone splattered green paint on the statue of the 16th president and the floor area. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning with no words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism This handout photo provided by the National Park Service shows green paint splatter on the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013. The Lincoln Memorial was temporarily closed Friday after someone splattered a splash of green paint on the statue. The apparent vandalism was discovered around 1:30 a.m. Friday on the statue, the pedestal and the floor, U.S. Park Police said. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/National Park Service)
AP Photo/National Park Service
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism National Park Service workers clean the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013, after someone splattered green paint on the statue of the 16th president and the floor area. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning with no words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism Tourists and reporters stand behind a police barrier as the central hall of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013, as it was closed for cleaning after someone splattered green paint on the statue of the 16th president and the floor area. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning with no words, letters or symbols visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism National Park Service workers clean the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013, after someone splattered green paint on the statue of the 16th president and the floor area. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning with no words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism Splattered green paint is seen on the right shoe area of the Abraham Lincoln statue at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism A U.S. Park Police officer stands guard next to the statue of Abraham Lincoln at the memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013, after the memorial was closed to visitors after someone splattered green paint on the statue and the floor area. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism Splattered green paint is seen on the right shoe area of the Abraham Lincoln statue at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism U.S. Park Police close off the Lincoln Memorial to visitors after someone splattered green paint on the statue and the floor area, in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism U.S. Park Police close off the Lincoln Memorial to visitors after someone splattered green paint on the statue and the floor area, in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism Visitors leave the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013, after the U.S. Park Police closed it off after someone splattered green paint on the statue and the floor area of the memorial. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism A U.S. Park Police officer stands guard next to the statue of Abraham Lincoln at the memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013, after the memorial was closed to visitors after someone splattered green paint on the statue and the floor area. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism A U.S. Park Police officer stands guard next to the statue of Abraham Lincoln at the memorial in Washington, Friday, July 26, 2013, after the memorial was closed to visitors after someone splattered green paint on the statue and the floor area. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
KNOBLOCK FILE - The Lincoln Memorial in Washington is seen in this Monday, Nov. 20, 1995 file photo. The U.S. Park Police in Washington say the Lincoln Memorial is temporarily closed after someone splattered green paint on the statue and the floor area. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning July 26, 2013. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/Mark Wilson)
AP Photo/Mark Wilson
Lincoln Memorial Vandalism FILE - The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, is seen in this Oct. 22, 2006 file photo. The U.S. Park Police in Washington say the Lincoln Memorial is temporarily closed after someone splattered green paint on the statue and the floor area. Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered early Friday morning July 26, 2013. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick, File)
WASHINGTON – The Lincoln Memorial was reopened on Friday evening after vandals spattered green paint on the statue overnight.
The chamber of the memorial was closed throughout the day Friday as historic preservationists worked to clean the paint off the statue.
As of Friday evening, some green paint could still be seen on the statue.
U.S. Park Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered around 1:30 a.m. Friday on the statue, the pedestal and the floor. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint.
Capt. Steven Booker says the paint spill “appears intentional based off of the splatter.” He says police are reviewing security camera footage to try to identify possible suspects.
National Park Service spokeswoman Carol Johnson says the memorial will be returned to the condition it was in before the vandalism.
“It is not permanent damage,” she said. “It can be cleaned.”
Johnson says preservationists will help with the cleanup.
“We have very good historic preservation crews. They won’t do anything that will damage it. They’re very familiar with the marble,” Johnson says.
U.S. Park Police Lt. Pam Smith says the investigation is ongoing and there are no suspects at this time.
The memorial, one of the most popular sites on the National Mall, was dedicated in 1922 to the nation’s 16th president.
See a photo showing some of the paint from NBC Washington in the tweet below:
