The Lincoln Memorial

THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL

The Lincoln Memorial is a ceremonious monument located in Washington, D.C., which was built in honor of the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, and of “the virtues of tolerance, honesty, and constancy in the human spirit.” The memorial, which was erected along the banks of River Potomac, was designed by Henry Bacon, and was inspired by the Athenian Parthenon.

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The Lincoln Memorial is comprised of thirty six columns made of Colorado marble. Each column, which is 13.4 metres or 44 feet high, represents a state in the Union in 1865 (the time of the death of Lincoln). Listed above the colonnade are the names of the forty eight neighboring states and the dates of their Union admission, which are carved in Roman numerals. The names of Hawaii and Alaska have been engraved on a plaque on the front steps, as they received statehood a few decades after the completion of the Lincoln Memorial.

In the interior of the monument is a seated statue of Abraham Lincoln built out of Georgia white marble, which is 5.8 metres or 19 feet tall. This statue is laid on a pedestal constructed out of Tennessee marble, and its twenty eight parts were put together at the site itself. The design of the statue was by Daniel Chester French and the carving was done by the Piccirilli brothers from New York. Lincoln’s Gettysburg address is engraved on the southern wall of the monument, while Lincoln’s second inaugural address is engraved on the northern wall. There are two pieces of painted artwork by Jules Guerin on the ceiling- Emanicipation of a Race and Reunion and Progress. The Lincoln Memorial is also the terminal to the western border of the National Mall. It is located on the Reflecting Pool close to the Korean War Veterans Memorial as well as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The Lincoln Memorial is a significant symbol of the civil rights movement of America. On the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation (1963), Martin Luther King, Jr., a civil rights leader, stood at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in the presence of over 200,000 people.

The message of the Lincoln Memorial

“In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.”

VISITOR ORIGINS:

Tourists from all around the world hope to capture a piece of history by taking photographs at the Lincoln Memorial due to its importance in obtaining democracy and liberty in America.

• Lincoln Memorial Hours:

The Lincoln Memorial is open to the public at every hour of the day and every day of the year. The early evening and morning hours are the most alluring and peaceful times to visit.

• Accessibility:

This memorial is free of charge and completely accessible by wheelchair. Bathrooms and water fountains are also available.

Bike stands are located northeast of the Lincoln Memorial

Foggy Bottom is the nearest Metro station and is around a 15 to 20 minute walk.

The Lincoln Memorial Location

The address of the Lincoln Memorial is 2 Lincoln Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20037

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THE ON GDP:

Approximately six million people visited the Lincoln Memorial in 2011, which is greater than every other local site. $204 million was brought in to the local economy and 2,075 jobs were created by those visitors.

Visitors since 1936 to 2016

The Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA)

Monthly Breakdown of visitation

The Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA)

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:

Numerous options of accomodation are available within close proximity to the memorial, including a variety of star rated hotel chains and amenities.

TOURS:

Special Lincoln Memorial tour packages are available, starting at $25, which also include visits to surrounding monuments, a few of which are given below.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

• Washington Monument
• The White House
• The National Mall
• The Vietnam Memorial
• The World War II Memorial
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

FUN FACTS:

• The image of the Lincoln Memorial is on one side of the U.S. penny and at the back of the US$5 bill.
• The memorial has been influenced by the Greeks as Greece is known as the birthplace of democracy.
• The 19th century design was very much more intricate than the completed monument.
• On October 15, 1966, the Memorial has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• The statue of Lincoln was initially designed to be only 10 feet tall, but the statue nearly doubled in size as the construction began.
• To support the weight of the marble structure, its foundation was built around 66 feet deep. Thus, approximately 40 percent of the monument is actually buried underground.

REFERENCES

Ermengem, K. (n.d.). Lincoln Memorial, Washington. A View On Cities. http://www.aviewoncities.com/washington/lincolnmemorial.htm. (viewed 30 Mar. 2017).

Irma.nps.gov. (n.d.). U.S. Department of Interior – National Park Services. https://www.nps.gov/resources/story.htm%3Fid%3D201. (viewed 30 Mar. 2017)

Mentalfloss.com. (2015). 15 Monumental Facts about the Lincoln Memorial. http://mentalfloss.com/article/66932/15-monumental-facts-about-lincoln-memorial. (viewed 30 Mar. 2017).