Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial is a U.S. national memorial that honors Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. It stands at the western end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. The building looks like an old Greek temple, with tall columns and a grand design. Inside, there is a huge marble statue of Lincoln, and walls with words from two of his famous speeches: the Gettysburg Address and his second inaugural address.

Many important events have taken place at the Lincoln Memorial. One of the most famous was when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. People come from all over to see this beautiful memorial, which welcomes more than seven million visitors each year.

The memorial is taken care of by the National Park Service and is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks. It was officially recognized as important on October 15, 1966, when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open all day, every day, for anyone to visit and remember one of America’s greatest leaders.

History

Construction and dedication

The first public memorial to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C. was a statue by Lot Flannery in 1868, three years after Lincoln's assassination in Ford's Theatre. People wanted a big national memorial for Lincoln, and in 1867, Congress started planning one. An artist named Clark Mills designed a huge monument, but not enough money was raised.

Later, in 1910, a new bill passed, and the Lincoln Memorial Commission was formed. President William H. Taft led it. In 1913, they chose a design by architect Henry Bacon and a location. Some people thought the design was too fancy for Lincoln, and others did not like the place chosen. But the commission decided it was the best spot.

With money from Congress, building started in 1914. The statue of Lincoln was made bigger so it would look right in the large room. The memorial was finished in 1922 and dedicated by President Warren G. Harding. Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln, attended the ceremony.

Subsequent history

The Lincoln Memorial became important for many big moments in history. In 1939, Marian Anderson, a famous African-American singer, performed there after being refused at another venue. In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech to a huge crowd during the March on Washington. This event helped push for civil rights for all Americans. The spot where King spoke is now marked to remember this important day.

The Memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. It continues to be a special place for important speeches and events.

Exterior

The Lincoln Memorial looks like a classic Greek temple, made from special Yule marble from Colorado. It is very big, measuring 189.7 by 118.5 feet and standing 99 feet tall. Around the building are 36 tall columns, one for each state in the country when President Lincoln passed away, plus two extra columns at the front. These columns help the building look straight even though they seem to lean a little.

On the building, you can see the names of the states from Lincoln’s time and when they joined the country. There are also beautiful carvings of lions, leaves, and eagles above. The memorial sits on strong concrete and has a large stone wall around it. To reach the main part of the memorial, there are many steps leading up from a reflecting pool, with special marble tripods on either side.

Interior

The Lincoln Memorial has three rooms separated by tall columns. The middle room holds a big statue of Abraham Lincoln. The rooms on the sides have words from Lincoln’s famous speeches carved into the walls. The walls also have pictures showing ideas like freedom and unity.

The statue of Lincoln was made by Daniel Chester French and carved from white marble. It shows Lincoln sitting and thinking. The statue is very large, sitting on a tall base. There are stories that Lincoln’s hands show signs in sign language, but this is not proven.

Below the memorial is a special space that was once closed because of safety concerns. Plans are to open it to visitors with a museum and theater.

In popular culture

The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most famous monuments in the United States, and it often appears in books, movies, video games, and TV shows set in Washington, D.C. By 2003, it had been featured in over 60 films. In 2009, someone named Mark S. Reinhart wrote about many ways the Memorial has been used in films and television.

One famous example is the 1939 movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, directed by Frank Capra. In an important scene, the statue inside the Memorial and its writing inspire the main character, Senator Jefferson Smith, played by James Stewart. Because filming rules are strict, the filmmakers used clever tricks to capture scenes inside the Memorial.

The Memorial is also popular in movies because of its grand look. It has been shown in many films, sometimes using computer effects because real filming inside is limited. One writer, Mitchell Newton-Matza, said the Memorial is very important to Americans and often appears in popular culture, especially in movies. Another writer, Tracey Gold Bennett, noted that the Memorial’s impressive look makes it a favorite spot for filmmakers.

The Memorial has even been used as a symbol in stories, standing for American values or big events from the 1960s. It has appeared in films in many ways, from serious moments to playful or imaginary scenes.

Depictions on U.S. currency

The Lincoln Memorial can be seen on some U.S. money. Since 1929, it has been on the back of the U.S. five-dollar bill. The front of the bill shows a picture of Abraham Lincoln. From 1959 to 2008, the Memorial was also shown on the back of the U.S. one-cent coin, which has Lincoln’s face on the front since 1909.