Emancipator

The Lincoln Memorial at sunrise.

South side of the Lincoln Memorial looking east toward the Washington Monument and the Capitol.

Detail of Lincoln's hand.

Abraham Lincoln of Illinois. Woodsman, Lawyer, Senator, President, Emancipator.

Located at the west end of the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial—honoring our 16th president, the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln—was authorized by Congress in 1911 and construction commenced in 1914. Building was completed in 1922 and dedicated by President Warren G. Harding. Lincoln’s only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln, attended the ceremonies. The Lincoln Memorial has been the site of many historical events, including the Rev. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered in 1963 on the steps of the memorial (a plaque in the steps commemorates the event.) As you enter this memorial, take time to read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, his Second Inaugural, and the quote above Lincoln’s statue sculpted by Daniel Chester French which reads:

In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.

Zip: 20024

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/07.