Today marks the anniversary of the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in 1922 . It ’s definitely one of the most distinguishable landmarks in Washington D.C. , a place that certainly is n’t lacking in memorable monuments . But how much do you really sleep with about the renowned tribute ? I ’ve tracked down some interesting tidbit for you to add to your arsenal of info .
1. It took 50 years to happen
Abraham Lincoln drop dead on April 15 , 1865 . Just under two age later , in March 1867 , the Lincoln Monument Association was incorporated by Congress to build an appropriate commemoration to our 16th Chief Executive . Apparently that was the easy part . It took the next 34 years to pick out a locating , and when one was finally opt in 1901 , the country was all swampland . It was another 10 yr before the monument was authorized by Congress , and on February 12 , 1914 ( Lincoln ’s natal day ) the first stone was officially put into lieu . Eight years afterwards , the dedication ceremony study place and was take care by Lincoln ’s boy , Robert Todd . The monument was dedicated by William Howard Taft .
2. The symbolism of the columns
There are 36 column featured on the Lincoln Memorial . It was n’t plan this way , but the columns were finally said to represent the 25 U.S. states at the fourth dimension of Lincoln ’s death , plus the 11 seceded states . The names of the 48 state of matter at the time of the monument ’s completion were write around the top ; a plaque recognize the later additions of Alaska and Hawaii in 1959 .
3. It’s been the site of some interesting events
Most masses belike know that Martin Luther King , Jr. ’s famous " I Have a ambition " oral communication took place at the Lincoln Memorial to honor Lincoln for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation . But it was also where Richard Nixon tried to invoke to Vietnam War protestors a few sidereal day after the Kent State shot . About 30 students were holding a vigil at the repository in the wee hours of the morning . At about 4:15 a.m. , Nixon showed up to have a little schmooze with them . Neither side could be swayed from their opinions . Also , for President Bush ’s 2001 startup , the Rockettes trip the light fantastic toe down the steps while perform their famous branch kicks . Not sure how I feel about that one .
4. The inscriptions
block squinting at the pictures " “ here ’s what the lettering over Lincoln ’s brain says:“IN THIS TEMPLEAS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLEFOR WHOM HE save up THE UNIONTHE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLNIS ENSHRINED FOREVER.“You’ll also find the text of two of Lincoln ’s most illustrious language " “ the Gettysburg address , of grade , and his second first computer address . On this one , the watchword " time to come " was circumstantially cut up with an " E " instead of an " F " and had to be doctor . To this 24-hour interval , you may see where the erroneousness happened .
5. The stats
Lincoln himself is 19 feet , nine inches tall " “ but keep in mind that he ’s sitting down . The rock for the building is Indiana limestone and Yule marble ; Lincoln is made of 28 blocks of Georgian marble . There are 98 steps that go from Lincoln to the reverberate syndicate , but the numeral has no meaning . The Memorial is on the " tail " side of the penny , and if you see really snug you’re able to see a little figure of Lincoln etched in his proper place in the monument . The Memorial is also on the five dollar bill ( although I ’m sure you already jazz that ) .
6. Is Lincoln using sign language?
If you look close at Lincoln ’s hands , his left hand looks like an " A " in American Sign Language and his proper mitt looks like an " L " . Although the National Park Service denies that the positioning was intended , there might be some truth to this story . Sculptor David Chester French was quite intimate with ASL " “ his Word was deaf . what is more , Lincoln sign Union legislation give Gallaudet University , a college for the deaf , the right wing to give out " prescribed " college degrees . So it ’s very potential that French snuck the reference in as a path to recognize Lincoln ’s contributions to the deaf .
7. The Lincoln Memorial goes high-tech
If you ’re headed to D.C. and did n’t have time to do your research beforehand , no worry " “ your cell phone will provide all of the information you need . you could dial ( 202 ) 747 - 3420 to get word park ranger mouth about 10 different themes , including " debunk the myth of the Lincoln Memorial " and " The Life and Times of Lincoln the Man " . Although I theorize you do n’t have to be at the monument to discover the rangers talk " “ you could dial in from your couch if you really want to .
8. Are Robert E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln the same man?
You know inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer ’s Stonewhere Voldemort appear on the back of the head of inadequate Professor Quirrell ? plain there ’s been a rumor circulate for years that the same thing is true of Lincoln and Lee . purportedly , there ’s an outline of Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee ’s face carved on the back of the Lincoln statue . This has been repeatedly refuted , but the hearsay still lurks .
