Approaching from the east with the glimmering waters of the Reflecting Pool beside you, it’s hard not to become reflective yourself as fall under the powerful and watchful gaze of our 16th President, immortalized in stone, as he welcomes you to our nation’s most visited monument. Located at the western end of the National Mall, the Lincoln Monument and its steps have hosted empowering rallies, moving speeches (Martin Luther King gave his “Dream” speech here in 1963), and nearly 8 million guests each year. As a moving visual and historical testament to the struggles of our young country and Lincoln’s influential role in defending our Republic, it is not to be missed during your stay in Washington, D.C.
The Memorial
Built in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial is modeled after a Greek temple, each of its 36 columns representing one of the states in Lincoln’s Union at the time of his assassination in 1865. The centerpiece of the building is an iconic 19’-high statue of Lincoln, stately and dignified, seated in a prominent spot gazing out over the land he dedicated his presidency to protecting. Sculpted from Georgia white marble, the statue weighs 175 tons. Lincoln’s face seems to glow with an ethereal light thanks to a special treatment of the overhead marble to increase its translucence and a system of concealed floodlights. Above the President, an inscription between two pilasters reads “In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.”
Entering the hallowed memorial, the interior space is divided into three chambers by rows of massive, 50’ high Doric columns. To the left of Lincoln’s statue the South chamber bears the entire text of the Gettysburg Address inscribed on the marble walls, reverberating in all its power and historical significance even now. Massive, colorful murals depict scenes from Lincoln’s life and reflect on the virtues most closely associated with the President: Freedom, Unity, Fraternity, Justice, and many more. The North chamber bears Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural Address, delivered in 1865 just shortly before his death.
The Lincoln Memorial
Open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, Lincoln Monument is free to the public. Rangers of the National Park Service are on site from 9:30am to 10pm daily and are an excellent source of information about the President and his marvelous monument. Getting to the Memorial is easy via the Metro, with stops at Foggy Bottom and the Smithsonian nearby (MetroBus stops 32, 34, and 36 are also nearby). Community bike shares also have nearby docks for your convenience.