After an amazing trip to Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, we decided to check the National Mall the following day and our first stop was the Lincoln Memorial.
And there he was, the 16th President of the United States. I was in awe when I saw his 19-feet (head to foot) statue that is made of white marble. Another sight to behold, just like the previous landmarks that we had previously visited in Virginia. The statue took four years to complete and opened to the public in 1922.
On seeing the statue, the hubs said, “This man was one of the greatest Presidents in American history, if not the greatest, because he saved the Union and our democracy.”
They were doing some renovations and had this ramp that we took on our way up. We took the steps on our way down.
The architect modeled the Lincoln Memorial after the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. We didn’t see the Parthenon in Greece but we did see The Parthenon in Nashville which is its full-scale replica.
With the glowing ceiling towering 60 feet above the floor, the interior is divided into three chambers with Lincoln’s statue in the central chamber. The north and south chambers contain carved inscriptions of two of Lincoln’s famous speeches.
South Chamber: The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address on November 19, 1863 during the dedication ceremony for the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.
North Chamber: Second Inaugural Address
The second inaugural address was delivered on March 4, 1865.
Reflecting Pool & Elm Walks
The reflecting pool which is adorned with elm trees on either side are key parts of the Lincoln Memorial landscape. It has become one of the most famous and filmed sites in Washington, D.C.
This post is just the perfect post for today to honor our nation’s great leaders. Happy Presidents’ Day!
I’ve seen the Lincoln Memorial a couple of times, and it was so impressive both times for me. Just the sheer size of it is impressive, and then coupled with what it represents.
I’ve never been to Lincoln memorial but a lot of my friends visited it and had a wonderful experience. The memorial itself means a lot and carries a ton of value. I can’t wait to see it in person, can’t wait.
Love to see the Lincoln memorial one day. A wonderful, historical spot to visit for sure.
I’ve only ever seem the Lincoln memorial in films. It must have been interesting to get to see it in person. The reflecting pool with the trees looks so pretty!