Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial has been a fixture on the National Mall since 1922. This memorial to our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, has been the site of many famous gatherings and speeches, with the most famous one being Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech in 1963.

The Lincoln Memorial was built in the style of a Greek temple, with 36 columns, one for each state at the time of Lincoln’s death. These columns are so large that five adults holding hands can not reach around one of them.

Inside the memorial, a 19-foot tall statue of Lincoln sits looking east toward the Washington Monument and the Capitol. Passages from the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's second Inaugural Address are carved into the walls. The Lincoln Memorial is an impressive site to visit after the sun has set and the lighting illuminates the building.

There are some fun tidbits of trivia about the Lincoln memorial. On the back of Lincoln's head is rumored to be an outline of the face of Robert E. Lee, his enemy during the Civil War. Take a look and see what you think! The hands of Lincoln's statue has one hand clenched, and the other open. It is thought that the sculptor, Chester French, who had a hearing-impaired daughter, carved Lincoln's hands to sign the president's initials, "A" and "L", in American Sign Language.

The Lincoln Memorial is located at the west end of the National Mall. While standing on the steps at the front of the memorial, you have a great view of the Washington Monument and the US Capitol. If you're lucky enough to be in Washington, D.C. on the Fourth of July, stake your claim on a spot at the top of the Lincoln Memorial steps and you will be in for the fireworks display of your life!