diff --git a/src/pages/index.astro b/src/pages/index.astro
index 0ffe31b..11ad0c8 100644
--- a/src/pages/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/index.astro
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ const canonical = new URL('/', Astro.site);
         </section>
       </main>
 
-      <footer class="footer">
+      <footer class="footer" data-footer>
         <p>© 2026 Blakeslee Research</p>
         <div class="footer-links">
           <a href="mailto:hello@blakeslee.xyz">Contact</a>
@@ -823,8 +823,18 @@ const canonical = new URL('/', Astro.site);
   .footer {
     padding-top: 1rem;
     border-top: 1px solid var(--line);
+  }
+
+  /* The stack is the journey to the site's closing information. Enhancement adds
+     this class before first paint; until its final card is active the footer cannot
+     visually signal that the page has already ended. */
+  .footer.is-awaiting-final-card {
     opacity: 0;
-    animation: fade-in 700ms 1.1s ease-out forwards;
+    pointer-events: none;
+  }
+
+  .footer.is-footer-revealed {
+    animation: fade-in 500ms ease-out forwards;
   }
 
   .footer p {
@@ -1095,6 +1105,7 @@ const canonical = new URL('/', Astro.site);
 
 <script>
   const technologyStack = document.querySelector<HTMLElement>('[data-technology-stack]');
+  const footer = document.querySelector<HTMLElement>('[data-footer]');
   const reducedMotion = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)');
 
   if (technologyStack && 'IntersectionObserver' in window && !reducedMotion.matches) {
@@ -1111,6 +1122,9 @@ const canonical = new URL('/', Astro.site);
     heroLead?.classList.add('has-scroll-stack');
     hero?.classList.add('has-scroll-story');
     technologyStack.classList.add('is-scroll-stack');
+    footer?.classList.add('is-awaiting-final-card');
+    footer?.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+    footer?.setAttribute('inert', '');
 
     let stackWrappedBelow = false;
 
@@ -1217,6 +1231,18 @@ const canonical = new URL('/', Astro.site);
       { passive: true },
     );
 
+    let footerRevealed = false;
+
+    const revealFooter = () => {
+      if (!footer || footerRevealed) return;
+
+      footerRevealed = true;
+      footer.classList.remove('is-awaiting-final-card');
+      footer.classList.add('is-footer-revealed');
+      footer.removeAttribute('aria-hidden');
+      footer.removeAttribute('inert');
+    };
+
     const activateTechnology = (index: number) => {
       cards.forEach((card, cardIndex) => {
         const isActive = cardIndex === index;
@@ -1226,6 +1252,7 @@ const canonical = new URL('/', Astro.site);
       });
 
       if (progressCurrent) progressCurrent.textContent = String(index + 1).padStart(2, '0');
+      if (index === cards.length - 1) revealFooter();
     };
 
     activateTechnology(0);