Lincoln Memorial

A symbol of unity and freedom, the Lincoln Memorial was built in Washington DC to honor the sixteenth president of the USA, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln memorial located in Washington DC was completed in 1922. This historical monument is not only an important tourist spot in Washington DC, but also has served as an important gathering site for many cultural and political event and rallies including the protest against Vietnam War and the ‘March of Washington’ rally in 1963 to fight for the right of African Americans in US.

Name	Lincoln Memorial
City	Washington DC
Country	USA
Area	107.43 acres
Height of the Statue of Lincoln	19 feet
Built Between	1912 and1922
Nearest Airport	Washington Dulles Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Distance from the Airport	3 miles
Visiting Hours	Open 24 hours; No admission fee
Architect	Henry Bacon
Sculpture	Daniel Chester French

Location
One of the prominent historical monuments of the capital district, the Lincoln Memorial is located on the National Mall in West Potomac Park, opposite the Washington Monument. The monument has a 19 feet tall marble statue of Abraham Lincoln inside a stone building which is rectangular in shape. There is a large pool of water in front of the monument. Easily accessible by metro and by bus, the monument is open all twenty-four hours. Private cars can also reach the monument; the interstate routes provide access to the mall from all the four directions - 395 from the south, interstate 495 from the north, interstate 66, US routes 29 and 50 from the west and US routes 4 and 1 from the east. Background

Abraham Lincoln became president of the United States, when America was on the verge of a civil war. Lincoln proved to be an astute leader and with unparalleled his political acumen, leadership, patriotism and compassion was able to build up the modern nation as a voluntary union of states. By the time Lincoln died 36 states were part of the United States. He was also responsible for giving Washington DC the status of the first new capital of the nation. The memorial built in 1922 was considered a long due tribute to felicitate his role in building the modern nation and the federal city. It was due to the efforts and determination of two congresspersons Shelby M Cullom and Joseph G. Cannon that the bill to construct the memorial was passed in 1911 and funds were allocated. Construction of the Lincoln Memorial began by 1914. Fifty seven years after the death of President Lincoln his memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1922, and opened up to the public.

Architecture and Sculpture
A long due tribute to the 16th President of USA, Abraham Lincoln, came in the form of a memorial, which was completed and made available for public viewing in 1922. The structural design of the monument was the brainchild of architect Henry Bacon who designed the structure to resemble a Greek Temple with 36 fluted columns; each column signifies one state in the union at the time of Lincoln’s death. There are 48 stones built into the attic of the building, which represents 48 states of the union in the year 1922. The monument is rectangular, made of Yule marble, and is 99 feet tall. There are three chambers inside the building, with the walls of the south and north chambers bear inscriptions from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and second inaugural speech. The ceiling of the memorial is adorned with designs of oak and laurel leaves. The monument has a 19 feet tall statue of Abraham Lincoln in a sitting position on a 10 feet base made of Tennessee marble and the statue of Lincoln is made of Georgia marble. The sculpture of Lincoln was crafted by Daniel Chester French with assistance from the Piccirilli Brothers and was completed in four years.

Special Attraction
Lincoln Memorial is one of the most visited attractions of Washington DC. The design & size, the sculpture of Lincoln, and the detailed carvings are the highlights of this monument. It is ranked seventh by the American Institute of Architects in the list of America’s favorite architectures. The statue of Lincoln and the monument have been featured in many movies such as Independence Day, Night at the Museum II, and the Line of Fire.. A number of video games have also been designed to feature the Lincoln Memorial. Besides being a tourist attraction, the memorial is also considered to be a sacred venue for the civil rights movement, mainly because of the critical role played by Lincoln in ending civil war in the US. It is not uncommon for schools & educational institutions to bring children here in an attempt to teach them national history .

An important site for political rallies, speeches, and events, this memorial is listed in the National Register of Historic Places of USA since 1966. The Lincoln Memorial receives millions of visitors every year, not only for its architectural beauty but also for the legacy and symbolism of Lincoln’s presidency.

The

Lincoln memorial

is located at the west end of the National Mall. From the top of the stairs in front of the temple, you have a great view of the Washington Monument and the US Capitol.

Lincoln memorial Fact

1)

Lincoln memorial

was build to honour the 16th President of US Abraham Lincoln and hence got this name.

2) Construction of

Lincoln memorial

got started in 1914.

3) Formed by

Lincoln memorial

Association.

4)

Lincoln memorial

is located at the west end of the National Mall.