For the third time in a decade, vandals have desecrated the Lincoln Tomb, this time spray-painting the memorial with swastikas and obscenities.
The walls of the observation deck and the base of the Lincoln bust that greets visitors at the entrance to the tomb were spray-painted. Human excrement and a T-shirt were found on the deck.Staff members discovered the damage Sunday. Black plastic will cover the paint until it can be removed by high-pressure spray, police said.
"We are considering it strictly a case of random and mindless vandalism," said Lt. Mike Geiger.
Lincoln, the nation's 16th president, is buried in the tomb with his wife, Mary Todd, and three of his four sons, Edward, William and Thomas. The body of the fourth son, Robert, lies in Arlington National Cemetery.
Lincoln spent most of his adult life in Springfield, where he practiced law before leaving for the White House. His body was returned to Springfield after he was assassinated April 14, 1865.
The monument was built between 1869 and 1874 and features a 117-foot obelisk. It attracts 100,000 to 200,000 visitors annually to Oak Ridge Cemetery, about two miles from the state Capitol.
In April 1987, vandals spray-painted racial slurs and other graffiti on the tomb. In June 1990, two cement urns were rolled from the deck down the stairway, chipping the stairs and cracking an urn. Both incidents resulted in arrests.