Vandals hit Washington's iconic Lincoln Memorial with green paint The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC is temporarily closed after vandals splattered green paint on the statue and the floor area. WASHINGTON'S iconic Lincoln Memorial has been vandalised with green paint and closed temporarily, authorities say. The splatter on the landmark larger-than-life statue of Abraham Lincoln was discovered overnight, Captain Steven Booker, a spokesman for the US Park Police, said. It will be closed temporarily for cleanup purposes and as evidence is reviewed, according to Mr Booker. Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, who kept the country together through the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing African-American slaves.