Photo by philliefan99

Just in time for the unofficial close of the D.C. summer travel season, the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool will open to the public on August 31 after two years of reconstruction and renovation.

Though it was fully filled over the weekend, the pool remained inaccesible to tourists as work continued on the grounds surrounding it. The new pool is shallower and able to better recycle the water within it, not to mention actually serve its purpose and reflect things. Its reconstruction cost $34 million to complete.

We’re offering a free six-pack of beer for the first intrepid DCist reader who dashes into the pool a la Forrest Gump* and provides photographic evidence of the feat. No, we won’t bail you out.

*OK, maybe you shouldn’t do this.