Abraham Lincoln Statue, Washington, DC

The statue of Abraham Lincoln inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, around 1921-1922. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, National Photo Company Collection.

The statue in 2018:

The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in 1922,and over the years it has become one of the most recognizable features of Washington, DC. The monument is designed like a Greek temple, and on the interior is a 30-foot-tall marble statue of Lincoln, who is seated and facing east toward the Washington Monument and the United States Capitol. It was designed by prominent sculptor Daniel Chester French, who had, nearly a half century earlier, designed the iconic Minute Man statue in Concord, Massachusetts. French would go on to create other important sculptures before his death in 1931, but this Abraham Lincoln statue would prove to be his magnum opus.

The first photo apparently shows a couple of workers putting the finishing touches on the statue, and it would have been taken sometime shortly before the memorial’s dedication. Nearly a century later, nothing of substance has changed in this scene. The statue is still here, as is the inscription above it, which was written by Royal Cortissoz. Elsewhere inside the memorial are inscriptions of Lincoln’s two most famous speeches: the Gettysburg Address and his second inaugural address. As the 2018 photo shows, the Lincoln Memorial remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, drawing more than seven million visitors each year.

5 thoughts on “Abraham Lincoln Statue, Washington, DC”

  1. If you do not appreciate Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation, and the honesty he stands for,maybe you would rather live elsewhere. I know a lot of people who would gladly help you pack. He set your ancestors FREE. Your bitterness is like a cancer. So let it go
    Thank God who sent His Son Jesus Christ who bore all the sin of all people forever. Why are you letting Satan rule your life? Yield yourself to The God who set you free, and guided Abe Lincolnto emancipated your ancestors
    Forgiveness and respect works so Just Be NICE.

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  2. The statues of american history are works of historical art. The removal only contributes to the stupidity of people. The reality is history cannot be changed. It is a fact of life. People should recognize the mistake made by humanity’s greed and proceed with their lives with impartiality.and impunity. Their is no honor in destruction or disicration of monuments of the world. Only stupidity. You discredit the efforts and work of a artists hard work.

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  3. Whether good or bad, we cannot erase Historic events. Statues, the people whose acts represent those who impacted history. Renaming Military bases America would dishonor those who died for our great country, died for this Country, those who are permanently dismember. We can’t erase History, we can learn from today, work together to change its future. Those who are trying to erase it, are racist just like those trying to rewrite History are no different tham those opposing racism and police brutality today.

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  4. People need to slow shit down. Next stop all this pulling down things … it is history.. we need to deal with it and not repeating history destruction..
    One defunding police really !! stupid people. Hitler did the same thing…look what happen. End up with the ”Gestapo ! ” and millions of people died in the ovens and concentration camps..⁹ study history ”THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY.. STOP TRYING TO COVER IT UP…

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  5. Start destroying all Black Monuments see how far that goes. What’s good for the goose is good for the gandder!!! BLACK slave TRADERS from Africa sold the black slaves to the white man. Lincoln freed them & most chose to stay. Not my fault. Not my problem.

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