Lincoln Memorial

Website

www.nps.gov/nama/index.htm

Coordinates

Telephone

The Lincoln Memorial construction began in 1914 with its dedication on May 30, 1922. Designed by architect Henry Bacon, it was modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, Greece and was built to memorialize the 16th President.

The memorial is surrounded by 36 fluted columns, one for each of the 36 states at the time of Lincoln’s death. In additional, the names of those 36 states as well as the years they joined the Union are inscribed in the frieze above the columns.

Lincoln Memorial (38.889294, -77.050026)

Lincoln Memorial looking east down the National Mall, during reconstruction (38.889294, -77.050026)

Behind the Lincoln statue is inscribed

IN THIS TEMPLE
AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE
FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION
THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
IS ENSHRINED FOREVER

Lincoln Memorial (38.889294, -77.050026)

In the chamber to the south of the statue are the words from his famous Gettysburg address speech, which he proclaimed that “all men are created equal.” The speech was given on November 19, 1864 at the dedication ceremony for the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Above the inscription is a mural titled “Emancipation” which depicts Justice and Law, the Angel of Truth releasing slaves from shackles, as well as Faith, Hope and Charity.

The north chamber depicts Lincoln’s second inaugural address from 1865, which was given just 4 weeks before the end of the Civil War. Above the inaugural address is another mural named “Unity”. Depicted in this mural are the Angel of Truth uniting two figures that represent the North and the South, as well as representatives of Painting, Philosophy, Music, Architecture, Chemistry, Literature, and Sculpture. To the left of the Angel of Truth are figures representing Fraternity, while the group on the right represents Charity.