Zombie Parent's Guide: Lincoln Memorial, Washington

The Lincoln Memorial is one of the iconic locations in Washington, D. C. The monument was authorized in 1867. Construction began in 1914 under the guidance of architect Henry Bacon; it was completed and dedicated in 1922. The memorial is built from granite and marble from various states (Massachusetts, Colorado, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia) to symbolize the reunification of the country. The building is patterned after the Parthenon in Athens.

The Lincoln Memorial

It honors the sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. He was president during the American Civil War and was the key figure in keeping the Union together. The statue of him inside the memorial was original to be ten feet tall but once construction began, they decided to double the size lest he be dwarfed by his own monument. The current statue's height is nineteen feet; if that Lincoln stood up he'd be twenty-eight feet tall!

The statue of Lincoln

Lincoln is depicted as a weary but strong man. His clenched left fist represents his determination; his open right hand represents his compassionate nature. Above his head is engraved "In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever."

The north and south side of the chamber have murals of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and the Gettysburg Address. Above them are murals symbolically depicting Unity (on the north above the Second Inaugural) and Emancipation (on the south above the Gettysburg Address).

Second Inaugural Address

Hard to get a good picture of the mural, go and see it for yourself!

Gettysburg Address

Click to enlarge

From Lincoln's vantage point, the Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument are easily visible.

Not quite from Lincoln's view

It's possible to and I recommend walking around the memorial at Lincoln's level. Most visitors don't realize they can go all the way around the memorial and enjoy some nice views. Behind the memorial is the Potomac River with Virginia on the far side.