The Beautiful Lincoln Memorial

The Washington D.C. memorial dedicated to Abraham Lincoln is perhaps the most familiar of all the presidential monuments.  Inscribed on the penny and the 5-dollar bill, this memorial is at least the most duplicated.

Lincoln's memorial was designed like a Greek temple.  Our nation's leaders were students of the Age of Enlightenment and fascinated by neoclassic design. Lincoln's thoughtful, seated position was also chosen to represent his reflective nature.

The memorial pays tribute through murals to Lincoln's efforts toward unity and the end of slavery.  His own words are inscribed as well with his second inaugural address on one side and the Gettysburg address on the other.

Ironically, the Gettysburg Address specifically states that men will not long remember what was said on the battlefield that day.  And yet it remains inscribed in stone forever.  Another point of Lincoln's speech, however, was that hopefully its hearers would carry on the task of maintaining  the good and noble principles of the country our forefathers founded.

The Lincoln Memorial is an important addition to Washington D.C. educational tours.  And when students view this monument with its prominent figure and inscriptions, it is the hope of its designers that they will be inspired to reflect on those principles, further believe in them, and be willing to take on the task.

(Photo by kimberlyfaye on Flickr)