Category: Monument  |  Rating :

eReview: Lincoln Memorial

Location: Washington, DC

Review by Chris Aldridge

The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most memorable and impressive monuments our country has and is a must-see when visiting the capital. It sits on one end of the Reflecting Pool facing the Washington Monument and the new WW2 memorial in between, with the Potomac River behind it.

The Lincoln Memorial is a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln and the nation he fought to preserve during the Civil War (1861-1865). The monument is constructed in the style of a classical Greek temple with 36 columns meant to represent the Union at the time of Abraham Lincoln's death. Inside the large structure, gazing out across the Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument, is a gigantic sculpture of Lincoln himself (sculpted by Daniel Chester).

The architect was Henry Beacon and the monument is part of National Capitol Parks

Inscribed on the south wall of the monument is the Gettysburg Address. Above it is a mural painted by Jules Guerin depicting the "angel of truth" freeing a slave. Guerin also painted the unity of North and South mural on the north wall. Etched into the north wall below the mural is Lincoln's second inaugural speech.

Getting to the Monument
I highly recommend taking the Metro (DC's clean and fast subway) to the Mall and seeing everything on foot. The Foggy Bottom metro station is the closest stop to the Lincoln memorial which is located due north of the memorial on the corner of 23rd and I streets

By Car
Interstates 66 and 395 provide access to the Mall from the south. Interstate 495, New York Avenue, Rock Creek Parkway, George Washington Memorial Parkway,provide access from the North. Interstate 66, Route 50 and 29 provide access from the West. Routes 50, 1, and 4 provide access from the East.

The Park Service has complete information here: http://www.nps.gov/linc/ and there are many sites that offer opinions and reviews like this one: epinions reviews of the Lincoln Memorial