The Lincoln Memorial – Testament to Greatness
Robert Decker
Few American landmarks stir emotion quite like the Lincoln Memorial. Honoring one of the most significant figures in our nation’s history, the memorial stands as a powerful tribute to President Abraham Lincoln — a legendary statesman remembered for “the virtues of tolerance, honesty, and constancy in the human spirit.”
Located on the west end of Washington D.C.’s National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial sits beside the Reflecting Pool, near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial. Designed by architect Henry Bacon and inspired by ancient Greek temples, the memorial is a neoclassical monument to the 16th President of the United States.
The Lincoln Memorial is more than a monument. It is a place of reflection, remembrance, and national reckoning — a site where history, democracy, grief, hope, and civil rights all meet.
Lincoln Memorial at a Glance
- Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
- Designed by Henry Bacon
- Inspired by ancient Greek temples
- Measures 190 feet long, 119 feet wide, and 100 feet tall
- Surrounded by 36 Doric columns, one for each state in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death
- Dedicated on May 30, 1922 before more than 50,000 people
Inside the memorial are carved inscriptions of two of Lincoln’s most famous speeches: the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address. At the center of the memorial sits the iconic statue of Lincoln, carved from Georgia white marble and seated in quiet contemplation on a pedestal of Tennessee marble.
The statue itself is imposing: 19 feet tall and weighing 175 tons. Yet despite its size, the feeling inside the chamber is often one of stillness. Lincoln appears solemn, thoughtful, and burdened by the immense weight of the nation he fought to preserve.
The memorial was built over a period of years in the early 1900s and dedicated on May 30, 1922. Lincoln’s only surviving child, Robert Todd Lincoln, was present for the ceremony. It is a painful irony that despite Lincoln’s reputation as the “Great Emancipator,” the dedication ceremony itself was segregated, as was still common practice at the time.
Important Historical Events
The Lincoln Memorial has long been more than a tribute to one President. Over time, it has become one of America’s most important stages for civil rights, public memory, and democratic expression.
In 1939, Marian Anderson, the famous African American contralto, was granted permission by the Department of the Interior — with support from then-first lady Eleanor Roosevelt — to perform at the Lincoln Memorial after being denied the right to sing at Constitution Hall.
Perhaps most famously, the Lincoln Memorial served as the backdrop for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. Standing on the steps of the Memorial before more than 200,000 people, King delivered one of the most powerful and enduring speeches in American history.
Few places in America carry so many layers of meaning. The Lincoln Memorial honors Lincoln’s life, but it also reminds us that the work of freedom, equality, and national unity has continued long after his presidency.
About the Man
Abraham Lincoln remains a towering figure in the fabric of the nation’s heritage. From humble beginnings as a poor boy on the frontier, reading books by candlelight after long days of farm work, Lincoln educated himself and developed a deep understanding of the world around him.
Raised with a combination of physical labor, self-discipline, and keen intellect, Lincoln used his love for the written word, his strong work ethic, and his ability to speak plainly and directly to people to propel first his legal career, and then his political career.
As President, Lincoln believed secession was illegal and was willing to use force to defend Federal law and preserve the Union. But the Emancipation Proclamation, issued in 1863, remains one of his greatest achievements. It declared forever free those enslaved people within the Confederacy and changed the moral course of the Civil War.
Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865 marked a watershed moment in the nation’s history, coming just as the Civil War was drawing to a close.
Why the Lincoln Memorial Still Matters
- It honors one of America’s most consequential presidents.
- It preserves the words of the Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address.
- It stands as a symbol of Union, emancipation, sacrifice, and national healing.
- It has served as a powerful backdrop for major civil rights moments.
- It remains one of the most visited and emotionally resonant landmarks in Washington, D.C.
The Lincoln Memorial is open 24 hours a day, and more than seven million people visit it each year. Whether seen in the soft light of morning, the glow of sunset, or illuminated at night, it remains one of the most moving places in the nation’s capital.
Celebrate the Lincoln Memorial
Bring home one of America’s most iconic landmarks with Rob Decker’s vintage-inspired Lincoln Memorial poster.
