Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

The Lincoln memorial is a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln and the nation he fought to preserve during the Civil War (1861 - 1865). The Lincoln Memorial was built to resemble a Greek temple. It has 36 columns, one for each state at the time of Lincoln's death.
The Lincoln sculpture inside is by Daniel Chester French.

If you look to the left hand side of the statue and the back of Lincoln's head there appears to be a face of a man carved. Rumour has it that this is the face of Robert E. Lee. Now whether this is true or not I don't know. But take a peek and see what you think.

The Lincoln Memorial is a monument dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln and the nation he fought to preserve during the Civil War (1861-1865).
The Lincoln Memorial was built to look like a Greek temple. It has 36 columns, one for each state at the time of Lincoln’s death.

Lincoln was one of the greatest presidents to ever administer the country. That's saying something considering he kept the country together during the American Civil War. I'd also note after reading Lincoln's scripture at the Memorial, he understood the Civil War was a necessary evil in order to hold The Union (i.e. America) together.

Here is a close up of the awesome statue of Lincoln inside of the Lincoln Memorial. Like Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln also is famous for speeches.

No speech in Presidential American famous is more memorable than his Gettysburg Address. Inside the Lincoln Memorial, transcribed on the white marble walls is that very speech he gave.

Staring at the statue, you see a man determined and stubborn to keep the country united.

On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King gave perhaps the most beautiful and eloquent speech in history, before a crowd after a Civil Rights "March on Washington."

Hundreds of thousands of people must have become hypnotised by the beauty of his message.

I first heard a recording of his speech when I was 8 years old and it's message was so poignant, that a young white child as myself understood the struggles he was talking about and fighting to end.

Now whenever I think of this speech, I get teary eyed. It is not spoken word, but his speech was the marraige of poetry and music.

As this picture was taken of me, on the very steps of the Lincoln Memorial where MLK gave this famous speech, I felt a strong sense of peace on this hot day in June where I stood. For six months after he was assassinated, at the young age of 39, I was born. And although he has long since passed away, his spirit soars the air to this day as I, nearly his age, still talk about him.

I find it poetic that my shirt has the #28 on it. For he gave the speech on the 28th of August. What a spiritual coincidence.

When you stand near where he gave that speech, you can't feel that you've become a better person by breathing the air where MLK gave this glorious speech.

In front of this view is the Washington Monument (which is bleached out by the light). To left, out of sight, is the Vietnam War Memorial Monument and to the right is the powerfully poignant Korean War Memorial Monument.

I love the Lincoln Memorial. From this angle, it seems small, but look carefull at the size of the people in front of the building. It is quite large and the walk up the stairs is great exercise. From the top, you will have an excellent view of the Washington Monument.

A wonderful piece of architecture, inside is a statue of American President, Abraham Lincoln, our country's leader during one of the most important chapters in American History: "the civil war."

The monument now is a symbol of US perserverence through tough times and a landmark that artistically gives the ideal of the "United States" one that is void of any single color, creed, race, religion, or nationality.

See the next picture.

"I do the best I know how, the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing it to the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me will not amount to anything. If the end brings me out all wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference."
Abraham Lincoln

Coming from Illinois, I was thrilled to see the Lincoln Memorial in the afternoon; however, seeing it at night was more rewarding. The Greek Architecture made of white marble literally dazzles the eye when it is lit at night. This neoclassical temple, designed by Henry Bacon, was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1922 by the Black president of Tuskegee Institute; however, after his speech, he was "ushered away from the speaker's platform and seated in the segregated black section of the audience across the road"! How ironic!

Lincoln was the tallest US President, so it is only right that the famous figure of Lincoln seated inside the memorial would reach 28 feet if it were stood up!

What makes this memorial even more spectacular is the way it looms over the Reflecting Pool as though he were some ancient god in his Neoclassical temple. I found the engraving of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address & Second Inaugural Address on the walls of the memorial to be quite poignant.

On the south wall, an Angel of Truth frees a slave & is flanked by groups of figures that represent Justic & Immortality. The north wall mural depicts the unity of the North & South, & is flanked by groups of forms symbolizing Fraternity & Charity.

I picture in my mind's eye the vision of Martin Luther King, Jr giving his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at this site.

In simple terms, I think this shrine to the Great Emancipator is one of the most splendid sights in Washington DC. With its 36 white marble columns symbolizing the 36 states of the Union at the time of Lincoln's death, it demands respect.

A great memorial to a fine American President. It is open-air, with this famous statue in the middle. Even non-Civil War buffs will deem this monument worth a visit. You can't help but admire President Lincoln, especially standing at his feet here!