#OnThisDate February 12, 1914: Lincoln’s Legacy Rises

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The Groundbreaking Ceremony For The Lincoln Memorial Took Place In Washington, D.C. This Event Marked The Start Of A Monument Dedicated To Honoring President Abraham Lincoln, The Leader Who Preserved The Union During The Civil War. The Location Chosen Was At The Western End Of The National Mall, An Area That Required Extensive Preparations Due To Its Soft, Swampy Ground. Engineers Developed A Strong Foundation, Using 122 Concrete Piers Driven Deep Into The Bedrock To Support The Massive Structure.

The Design Of The Memorial Was Led By Architect Henry Bacon, Who Chose A Neoclassical Style Inspired By The Parthenon In Athens. He Intended The Structure To Symbolize Democracy And The Ideals Lincoln Championed. The Memorial Features 36 Doric Columns, Representing The States In The Union At The Time Of Lincoln’s Assassination In 1865. Above The Columns, The Names Of These States Are Inscribed. Later, The Names Of Additional States Were Carved On The Terrace As The Nation Expanded.

Materials For The Memorial Were Carefully Selected To Represent National Unity. The Exterior Is Made Of Colorado Marble, The Interior Walls And Columns Are Crafted From Indiana Limestone, And The Statue Of Lincoln Was Carved From Georgia Marble. The Steps And Terrace Walls Feature Granite Sourced From Massachusetts. This Thoughtful Selection Of Materials From Different States Reinforced The Idea That The Memorial Was A National Tribute.

At The Heart Of The Memorial Stands A 19-Foot-Tall Statue Of Abraham Lincoln, Seated In Contemplation. Sculptor Daniel Chester French Created The Design After Extensive Study Of Lincoln’s Photographs And Life Masks. The Statue Was Carved By The Piccirilli Brothers, A Family Of Renowned Italian-American Sculptors Based In New York. The Statue's Expression And Posture Convey Both Strength And Compassion, Reflecting Lincoln’s Leadership And Resolve. The Size Of The Statue Was Initially Planned To Be Smaller, But In 1918, It Was Decided To Double The Dimensions To Better Suit The Grand Space Of The Memorial Chamber.

The Interior Of The Memorial Features Two Large Inscriptions Of Lincoln’s Most Famous Speeches: The Gettysburg Address And His Second Inaugural Address. These Speeches Were Selected Because They Encapsulated Lincoln’s Views On Unity, Equality, And The Moral Purpose Of The Civil War. Above The Statue, An Inscription 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.”

Construction Progressed Through World War I, Despite Labor And Material Shortages. The Project Continued Without Interruption, And By 1922, The Memorial Was Complete. On May 30, 1922, The Dedication Ceremony Took Place, With Chief Justice William Howard Taft Presenting The Memorial To President Warren G. Harding. Thousands Attended The Event, Including Lincoln’s Last Surviving Son, Robert Todd Lincoln. However, The Ceremony Reflected The Racial Divisions Of The Time, As Black Attendees Were Seated Separately From White Spectators.

Since Its Dedication, The Lincoln Memorial Has Become A National Symbol Of Unity And Equality. Over The Decades, It Has Served As A Backdrop For Many Significant Historical Moments. In 1939, Singer Marian Anderson Performed There After Being Denied A Concert Hall Due To Racial Discrimination. In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. Delivered His Iconic “I Have A Dream” Speech From Its Steps During The March On Washington.

The Lincoln Memorial Continues To Stand As A Powerful Symbol Of The Nation’s Commitment To The Ideals Of Freedom, Democracy, And Justice. The Groundbreaking In 1914 Marked The Beginning Of A Monument That Would Become One Of The Most Recognized And Revered Landmarks In The United States.

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