10 Interesting Facts about the Lincoln Memorial

These are the following facts about The Lincoln Memorial which can inform you more. The Lincoln Memorial is a monument national of American which built as the honor for the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.  Dedicated in 1922, it is one of several monuments built to honor an American president. To gain more information, let’s check the details facts below.

Facts about the Lincoln Memorial 1: Measures

The structure measures 57.8 by 36.1 m and is 30 m tall. It is surrounded by a peristyle of 36 fluted Doric columns, one for each of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death, and two columns in-antis at the entrance behind the colonnade. The columns stand 13 m tall with a base diameter of 2.3 m.

Facts about the Lincoln Memorial 2: The Frieze

Above the colonnade, inscribed on the frieze, are the names of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death and the dates in which they entered the Union. Double wreath medallions in bas-relief have separated their names.  Find more facts about the Judicial Branch here

Facts 2 (The Frieze)

Facts 2 (The Frieze)

Facts about the Lincoln Memorial 3: Symbolism

The Monument is filled with symbolism: the 36 columns represent the states in the union at the time of Lincoln’s death, the 48 stone festoons on the attic above the columns represent the 48 states in 1922. On the south wall mural, Liberty, Freedom, Justice, Immortality, and the Law are pictured, in the north of wall portrays Unity, Charity, and Fraternity. Background of cypress trees are contained in the both scenes, the emblem of Eternity.

Facts about the Lincoln Memorial 4: Statue

The statue of Lincoln sitting in contemplation can be found between the north and south chambers. The statue was carved by the Piccirilli Brothers under the supervision of the sculptor, Daniel Chester French, and took four years to complete.

Facts 4 (Statue)

Facts 4 (Statue)

Facts about the Lincoln Memorial 5: Urban Legends

The sculpture has been at the center of two urban legends. Some have claimed that the face of General Robert E. Lee was carved onto the back of Lincoln’s head and looks back across the Potomac toward his former home. Another popular legend is that Lincoln is shown using sign language to represent his initials, with his left hand shaped to form an “A” and his right hand to form an “L”, the president’s initials.

Facts about the Lincoln Memorial 6: Sacred Space

As Sandage, (1993) demonstrates, the Memorial has become a symbolically sacred venue especially for the Civil Rights movement. On August 28, 1963, the memorial grounds were the site of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which proved to be a high point of the American Civil Rights Movement. Find more facts about the Jazz Age here

Facts 6 (Sacred Space)

Facts 6 (Sacred Space)

Facts about the Lincoln Memorial 7: Vandalism

In September 1962, vandals painted the words “nigger lover” in foot-high pink letters on the rear wall. Other vandalism found in 2013; on the morning of July 26, the memorial was shut down after the statue’s base and legs were splashed with green paint. It reopened later that day.

Facts about the Lincoln Memorial 8: Depictions on U.S. Currency

The Lincoln Memorial was shown on the United States reverse of  one cent coin started from 1959 to 2008, which bears Lincoln’s portrait bust on the front. This was done to mark the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. It also appears on the back of the U.S. five dollar bill, the front of which bears Lincoln’s portrait.

Facts 8 (Depictions on U.S. Currency)

Facts 8 (Depictions on U.S. Currency)

Facts about the Lincoln Memorial 9: In Popular Culture

The Lincoln Memorial can be found in various works such as novel, films, televisions, video games and music videos.

Facts about the Lincoln Memorial 10: Films

There are many famous films showed the Lincoln Memorial in their scenes such as Planet of the Apes, Night at the Museum 2, X-Men: First Class, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and so forth.

Facts 10 (Films)

Facts 10 (Films)

Perhaps those interesting facts about the Lincoln Memorial will enrich your source of reading .

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