Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial
Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w · Public domain · source
Name	Lincoln Memorial
Caption	The Lincoln Memorial, facing the National Mall and Washington Monument.
Location	Washington, D.C., United States
Designer	Henry Bacon (architect), Daniel Chester French (sculptor)
Material	Yule marble (exterior), Indiana limestone (interior)
Begin	February 12, 1914
Complete	May 30, 1922
Dedicated	May 30, 1922
Governing body	National Park Service

Lincoln Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial is a national monument in Washington, D.C. built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Dedicated in 1922, its classical design and monumental statue have made it an iconic symbol of national unity and a hallowed stage for pivotal events in the nation's ongoing journey toward equality, most notably during the Civil Rights Movement.

History and Construction

The movement to create a fitting memorial for President Abraham Lincoln began shortly after his assassination in 1865. For decades, various plans were proposed, but it was not until the early 20th century that the project gained serious momentum under the leadership of the Lincoln Memorial Commission, chaired by President William Howard Taft. Congress authorized the construction in 1911. The commission selected the architect Henry Bacon, who designed the structure in the form of a Greek Doric temple. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Lincoln's birthday, February 12, 1914. The primary construction material is Yule marble from Colorado, chosen for its luminous quality. The cornerstone was laid in 1915, and construction continued through World War I. The memorial was formally dedicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1922, in a ceremony presided over by former President Taft and attended by Lincoln's sole surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln, and President Warren G. Harding. The principal speaker was Dr. Robert Russa Moton, the president of the Tuskegee Institute, whose address, however, was censored by the memorial commission for its frank discussion of racial issues, an early indicator of the site's complex relationship with American ideals.

Design and Symbolism

The memorial's design is rich with symbolic meaning intended to reflect Lincoln's legacy and the enduring principles of the Union. Henry Bacon's architectural plan features 36 fluted Doric columns, each representing one of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death in 1865. The names of the 48 states in the Union at the time of the memorial's dedication are inscribed above the colonnade. Inside the central chamber sits the monumental seated sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, carved from 28 blocks of white Georgia marble by the sculptor Daniel Chester French. The statue, 19 feet tall, depicts a contemplative Lincoln, embodying strength and compassion. Inscribed on the north wall is Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and on the south wall, his Second Inaugural Address. The ceiling features murals by the painter Jules Guerin allegorically representing principles of unity, justice, and immortality. The memorial's axial placement at the west end of the National Mall, facing the United States Capitol and the Washington Monument, reinforces its role as a cornerstone in the nation's symbolic landscape, representing the preservation of the republic and the ideals of liberty.

Role in the Civil Rights Movement

The Lincoln Memorial became a powerful and contested stage for the Civil Rights Movement, symbolizing the gap between Lincoln's promise of freedom and the reality of Jim Crow segregation. Its most famous association is with the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. Organized by leaders like A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, the march culminated at the memorial's steps where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech to over 250,000 people. This event, broadcast nationally, was a defining moment that helped galvanize public support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Earlier, in 1939, contralto Marian Anderson gave a landmark Easter Sunday concert on its steps after being barred from performing at the segregated Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her performance, arranged by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, drew an integrated crowd of 75,000 and was a significant early protest against racial discrimination. These events cemented the memorial's status as a national forum for appeals to conscience and a living testament to the unfinished work of achieving equality under the law.

Notable Events and Gatherings

Beyond the Civil Rights Movement, the Lincoln Memorial has been the site of numerous significant national gatherings and protests, reflecting its role as America's "front porch." In 1922, the dedication itself was a major event, establishing the site's solemnity. During World War II, it served as a symbolic backdrop for rallies supporting the war effort. In 1957, a Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom was held there, featuring Dr. King. The Vietnam War prompted several large anti-war demonstrations at the site, including a 1967 rally where over 100,000 gathered. In 1970, President Richard Nixon made an impromptu early-morning visit to converse with student protesters. The memorial has also been used for celebratory events, such as the televised "A Capitol Fourth" concerts. It is a focal point for presidential inaugurations and has been visited by numerous foreign dignitaries, including Mahatma Gandhi's tribute in 1931. The steps are a traditional site for public demonstrations, from the Million Man March in 1995 to various contemporary political speeches == Cultural Significance of thea == 20, and the not a